Possible explanations for meteor like observations?

[Algr]

TL;DR

Getting ready to find the Nova. Saw flashes.

My friend and I were looking at constellations to find where T Coronae Borealis will be. There were lots of meteors, despite not quite being time for the Perseids. It was thursday, around 10pm. We also saw satellites, and something else: Singular flashes like from a camera. At first I thought these might be meteors that were shooting straight at us. But they seemed to blink too fast for that, and there were no "almosts" that just moved a little bit. Any idea what these are?

 

[Baluncore]

Getting ready to find the Nova. Saw flashes.
Any idea what these are?

Specular reflections from satellites or space junk.
Eyes, adapted to the dark, will see flashes due to chemical noise.

 

[Algr]

Thank you Baluncore!

Also, T Coronae Borealis is generally described as being "Between Bootes and Hercules". But these constellations are too dim to be seen in most suburban areas. However, Alphekka (in Coronae Borealis) is part of a big equilateral triangle that I can see at home, and has a fourth star right in it's center. This triangle is strangely hard to find on star maps, so when it gets dark tonight I'll try to figure out the name of the other stars. Then I can tell people: "Follow the handle of the big dipper to the big pyramid"

Are people going to get mad at me for redrawing the constellations like this?

 

[fresh_42]

This sounded like an airplane to me if regular and space junk if irregular, or some early Perseides.

 

[Algr]

We saw plenty of airplanes, this was different. Singular instantaneous flashes, and then nothing. We both would see them together so not "chemical noise" Specular reflections sounds the most likely to me.

 

[russ_watters]

They used to call them "flares", and tracker apps/websites would predict them for you. Most were the Iridium constellation, which is since retired. Not sure if they are still predicted/tracked but there are many satellite finder apps/programs that could tell you which satellite it was.

Meteors aren't bright dots, they are streaks/trails.

 

[davenn]

TL;DR Summary: Getting ready to find the Nova. Saw flashes.

There were lots of meteors, despite not quite being time for the Perseids.

ummmm - no, not correct ... the Perseids have been going for a couple of weeks
they just peak on the 12 August give or take 24 hours
So you should already be out there looking for them

 

[Vanadium 50]

So you should already be out there looking for them

In the air or on the ground?

 

[DaveC426913]

They used to call them "flares", and tracker apps/websites would predict them for you. Most were the Iridium constellation, which is since retired. Not sure if they are still predicted/tracked but there are many satellite finder apps/programs that could tell you which satellite it was.

My first thought. Iridium flares are cool. *

But I'm sure algr would have mentioned if they were moving like Iridium flares do.


* I once used the HeavensAbove site to pull off a fantastic Mayan Priest-esque spectacle at an outdoor BBQ on a farm. The timing and sight line was incredibly lucky. It was fireworks night here in Canada, and everyone at the party had gathered outside for a few amateur fireworks to be set off. After a mildly-whelming volley I stood up in front of the crowd and said "That's all fine and everything, but I prefer to summon my fireworks ... FROM THE HEAVENS THEMSELVES!" A sweeping theatrical gesture toward the sky and, right on cue, an Iridium Flare appeared, peaked and disappeared to astonished "Ooh"s and "Aah"s.

 

[Baluncore]

The timing and sight line was incredibly lucky.

Always check heavens-above.com before going to a BBQ. I have pulled the same stunt, several times. On one night it became totally overcast, but it was predicted to be a bright flare, so I went ahead anyhow. The flare was visible through the cloud, exactly on time, and where I pointed.

Now that the Ir flares are gone, I tell the participants that, as a birthday special, I have hacked into the NASA computer and programmed a satellite to turn on its down-light, and then the headlights at a precise time. It is then seen rising and passing, brightening for a few moments, right on time, before entering the Earth's shadow, clearly just when I programmed the lights to turn off, to save power.

There is usually one person who knows it is an act, who comes up later and asks, quietly, how it was done. I give them the heavens-above.com prediction printout for the satellite.

 

[Algr]

So here is my rough draft for a nova guide. Suggestions welcome.

Edit: The forum seems to have scaled the picture down quite a bit. The stars I have are (top to bottom) Alphekka, Izar, Nekkar, and Arcturus. Curiously, I have never heard of the first three before. Boring stars? At least I can see them.

 

[Algr]

Detail:

 

[Algr]

Humph!