What Was That Bright Light in the Sky?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the observation of a bright light in the sky that faded in brightness, with participants exploring potential explanations for the phenomenon. The scope includes observational astronomy, satellite behavior, and atmospheric effects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes observing a bright light at an altitude of about 90 degrees that suddenly dimmed and disappeared, questioning whether it could have been a geostationary satellite.
  • Another participant shares their experience with satellites, noting that they typically fade in brightness as they pass into the Earth's shadow, suggesting that a geostationary satellite might also fade but over a longer duration.
  • A participant asks for clarification on the altitude mentioned, questioning if the observer meant 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees.
  • The original poster confirms their location in Perth, Australia, and reiterates the fading behavior, pondering if the object could have been in the upper atmosphere and moving slowly.
  • Another participant proposes that the object might have been slowly rotating, which could explain the change in brightness.
  • One participant suggests the possibility of the object being a satellite or a high-altitude aircraft, noting that satellites can rotate and change brightness based on their orientation to the Sun, while also emphasizing that nothing in orbit can remain stationary unless positioned over the equator.
  • There is a mention of two factors that could explain the fading: the object moving into the Earth's shadow or rotating out of view.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the nature of the observed light, with no consensus reached on what it could definitively be. Multiple competing views remain regarding the potential explanations.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the definitions of satellite behavior and the specific conditions under which geostationary satellites operate, as well as the observer's exact altitude reference.

Vast
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It was a little after sunset and I noticed a star at an Altitude of about 90 degrees. It wasn’t moving and it looked like any other star, but all of a sudden it started to get dimmer. I thought maybe a cloud was passing over, and there were a few small clouds around, but none I could see directly covering this particular star. Apart from a few small clouds the sky was very clear. I think I watched for maybe another 30 – 60 seconds as this star totally disappeared.

I’m thinking whether it could have been a geostationary satellite, but I only know of these satellites to hover over the equator, and I’m nowhere near the equator. It would have been a few years ago now, and I’m still wondering what it was.

Can anyone tell me if a geostationary satellite could hover over a location apart from the equator or whether it could have been something else?
 
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I’ve seen many satellites before, iridum flares, the ISS. I’ve never seen a geostationary satellite, so I wouldn’t know whether they fade in brightness in the same way a typical moving satellite would. This is anywhere from a few seconds to a whole minute as the satellite passes into the Earth's shadow. My guess is that a geostationary satellite would fade over the course of a few minutes, if someone has any idea it would be much appreciated!
 
Approximately where are you located? When you say 90 degrees, do you mean 45 degrees? 90 degrees is straight up...
 
I’m in Perth, Australia and it was close to 90 degrees straight up.

What’s bothering me is that it faded like an ordinary satellite, though how could it have been if it was stationary? I noticed it because it was quite bright to begin with, about as bright as Jupiter. The only alternative I can think of is that it was in the upper atmosphere and moving extremely slowly.
 
What a satellite or a high altitude aircraft? Satellites do rotate, and you’ll see them increase and decrease in brightness as the solar panels direct sunlight in your general direction, it would make sense if it was stationary, but as far as I know nothing in orbit can have a stationary position unless its over the equator.

Those are the two factors: either it moves into the Earth's shadow or rotates out of view. This ones truly got me stumped!
 

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