Bright reddish-orange light. What was it?

[flymidge]

On Saturday night 8-19-06 at about 9:00 PM, in Orange County, California. I was outside in a friend's backyard, looking at the sky towards the northeast. I saw a small but very bright reddish-orange light that I thought, at first , might be Mars. Mind you, I know nothing about astronomy, zero, zip. The bright orb object looked much, much to far away to be an aircraft. I called my friends outside to look. The bright reddish-orange object was moving (in a south east direction) and spewed off impressive, burning debris, flickered and then disappeared. What the heck was this? We wondered was this a satellite, or was some "space trash" re-entering the atmosphere? <br /> <br />Any response is appreciated. We are very curious about what we saw.

 

[harmonicaman]

It's difficult to determine the distance of a point light source, but you may have seen a meteor or some other space debris reentering the atmosphere.<br /><br /><b>Meteor (and fireball) Element Color Chart</b><br /><br />Sodium: Orange-yellow <br />Iron: Yellow <br />Magnesium: Blue-green<br />Calcium: Violet <br />Silicon: Red <br />

 

[MeteorWayne]

How long was it visible? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[flymidge]

Hope my response post doesn't show up twice, I screwed something up the first try...<br /><br />I saw the object for a total of about 1 to 2 minutes from first observation, to yelling at my friends to come outside and look, to us noticing that it was moving, to seeing flaming debris, to observing it's disappearance.<br />The observation time was short ,but oddly enough felt like a long time. Weird. I am so glad I saw this and will never forget it! <br />By the way, I live in a heavily populated area with lots of ambient light. The ball of light was far away but VERY visible and colorful.<br />Thanks to any and all for your responses. I would really like to know what this fireball was.<br />

 

[flymidge]

Could this be related to Persiod?

 

[MeteorWayne]

Wow, that makes it really tough. To be visible for a few minutes, it must have been in the atmosphere, rather than at meteor height.<br />Have to think about this.<br />Thanx for posting this observation! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Nope, Perseid meteors come in at 130,000 mph, or 35 miles per second. A Perseid meteor can last only 3 or 4 seconds under the best conditions, most last less than a second. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Might have been re-entry of space debris. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[red67]

Where's your evidence that it is re-entry of space debris?...How would anyone know if you didn't click it and drag it and save it to be opened again?...<br />(sound familair qso1)

 

[MeteorWayne]

There's not much evidence yet. That's why I asked how long it was visible. Re-entering space debris is in (Very) low earth orbit before reentry.<br />An overhead pass of the ISS, for example, takes a bit more than 6 minutes to go from horizon to horizon. Therefore space debris is a likely explanation for something that takes a few minutes.<br />Meteors, on the other hand take at most a few seconds. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Space debris does seem most likely for something you observed that long. It may have been a rocket body from something that was launched from Vandenberg, since that's the nearest launch area.<br />When boosting a satellite to orbit, the rocket itself usually winds up in an eccentric orbit with perigee (the lowest point in the orbit...see you've learned a technical term already <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) near where it was launched.<br /><br />I'll try and do a little research to see if I can identify it, but I'm not heavily tuned is to satellites. Any See-Sat regulars here? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

I caught this story this morning, while reading the news. Relevant? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[flymidge]

After reading and pondering the questions and responses, I replayed the entire incident in my mind and tried to time it with a stopwatch. My observation lasted 1 to 1.5 minutes, and was closer to 1 minute. 2 minutes seems too long. <br />Could it have been an Iridium Flare?

 

[qso1]

Red67:<br />Where's your evidence that it is re-entry of space debris?...How would anyone know if you didn't click it and drag it and save it to be opened again?...<br />(sound familair qso1)<br /><br />Me:<br />Hmmmm where did I say it WAS a re-entry of space debris? I said it MIGHT be re-entry of space debris. Had I said it WAS reentry of space debris...I'd provide that evidence. As for clicking and dragging. Nope, dosn't sound familiar to me but if you like, hit my memory refresh button. <br /><br />BTW, whats your theory? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Don't think so Yevaud. Again, even the kappa-Cygnids, which are very slow meteors only last seconds, not minutes.<br />I have seen a few KCG's (that's the code for kappa-Cygnids) that were golden in color (unlike what the BAA said) and showered sparks. Some of the prettiest meteors I've ever seen!! <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> But, since the slowest possible incoming meteor speed (as we've discussed elsewhere <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> ) is 11 kps, or 6 miles a second, it's really not possible to be visible for a minute or two as they burn up too quickly. Now if it was 20 seconds, though unlikely it would be at least possible.<br /> However, just to follow up a little more I will ask a few questions. The KCG radiant was almost directly overhead (~70d elevation at azimuth 20 degrees, almost due north. Hopefully we can get more detailed info.<br /><br />MeteorWayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

I don't find any references to anything deorbiting and burning up at or near that date. The closest is the following here.<br /><br />That's a very useful site, btw.<br /><br />Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Could I ask a few more questions? the idea of a kappa Cygnid meteor has been floated, not a bad idea, but even a minute is too long, IMO.<br />How high up in the sky was it?<br />For example was it halfway up from the horizon to overhead, or lower or higher?<br />You said it was moving from the northeast to the southeast, is that correct? (I'm only asking to see if you looked at that in your mental replay?)<br />Do you have a compass? Could you go out and replay it (again <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) to estimate more precisely what direction the start and end point were?<br />Just trying do get some more clues. I know it's hard till you learn your way around the sky, not an easy thing to do in Orange County.<br />If you have any interest, might I suggest taking a trip to<br />the Orange County Astronomers. http://www.ocastronomers.org/<br />If you see a big tall guy named Tom, tell him Meteor Wayne said Hi!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Wow, that is a great site. Thanx!<br />However, I noted the upcoming reentries link did not work, and the last one they listed was the Delta you linked to. Something must be broken on the site for there to be nothing from July sixth on since there were 6 in the 3 weeks before then.<br />I'll drop them a note to see if they can update it.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[flymidge]

That Center for Orbital & Debris Studies site was interesting! There is a video clip from 2000 of a re-entry. Though black and white, the video looks similar to what I saw. "The video is on the "break-up and re-entry faq." <br />I don't own a compass, but the object appeared to move south, in the direction of Mexico, as it were, from my initial observation in the northeast sky. It was about halfway between the horizon and overhead. Maybe a tad higher.<br />I do not have an accurate start time for my sighting because the object was in the sky when I first looked up. It did not appear out of nowhere but was just there. <br />I am geographically close to Vandenberg.<br />Thanks for the ocastronomers link as well...<br /><br />

 

[yevaud]

Not every piece of orbiting debris is as accurately tracked as we'd like. So there's a possibility that's exactly what it was. Hard to say, really.<br /><br />But that fact that you said it looked quite similar does lend some credence to it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

BTW, I did send a note asking the site if they are having a problem. Hard to believe there have been none in six weeks.<br />I'll post again if I get a reply.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[red67]

I was referring to my post in the SETI room...was teasing about the click and save remark. BTW...My name is Red67 and I use to come in and post about two and half years ago.<br /><br />As for my Theory...I have no frickken idea...probably what you said. Although... I have seen the same thing before...so maybe it was a meteor.<br /><br />*ya do what ya gotta do*

 

[MeteorWayne]

Well, welcome back!<br />I'm kind of a new guy here myself.<br />Again, if it lasted over a minute, a meteor is really not an option.<br />We're still investigating things though. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

<i>We're still investigating things though.</i><br /><br />Ahh. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />This is who we are. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

And it's a good thing.<br />A VERY good thing <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>