One for the sleuths...

After yet another back-breaking day at work, I was just outside (Celbridge) looking up and noticed a flash in the sky, around about the Zenith. About four seconds later, another flash, a little further Northward. Sure enough, it turned into a series a flashes, approximately 4 seconds or so apart, heading in the same Northerly direction. Its hard to be accurate but it was pretty bright - mag 3 or 4 perhaps? First obs about 23:38, last obs about 23:40.

I'd say it was a tumbling object - a broken satellite, a piece of space junk or perhaps something else.

For the [strike]nerds [/strike]sleuths amongst you, perhaps someone could trawl about and get a positive ID? I'd do it myself but another back-breaking [strike]day [/strike]night at the office awaits...

Dave

hi Dave,

Hope all is well.

It looks like you saw NOAA 11 based on the predictions generated by Heavens-Above.com

The site allows you look back over previous days to check any observations.

Details for last night in Celbridge at www.heavens-above.com/allsats.aspx?lat=5...bridge&alt=55&tz=GMT ... the page allows you change the date & satellite magnitude parameters. Also, by clicking on the satellite name in the list you will see a map of the track on a star chart for your location.

Heavens-Above had a Google ad at the top of the page for Ireland Private Detective ... not sure about an opening for satellite sleuths though

www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/spacecraftSt...ry.asp?spacecraft=11 ... NOAA 11 is deactivated

www.noaa.gov/satellites.html

Talk soon,

John

Few - now I can take off that rather uncomfortable tinfoil hat...

Thanks John!