| Sighting Report |
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| Occurred : 9/12/2003 20:40 (Entered as : 09/12/03 20:40) Reported: 9/12/2003 8:29:40 PM 20:29 Posted: 9/17/2003 Location: Fort Plain, NY Shape: Triangle Duration:2 minutes |
| Unknown object viewed through 8" telescope containing 3 bright lights arranged in triangular shape At a local star gazing session we noticed a possible satellite (no blinking lights) travelling east to west across the southern sky (approximately 20-30 degrees above the horizon). I managed to catch the object in an 8" dobsonian reflector telescope and track it off and on for over a minute. It had three bright lights arranged in a triangular shape and passed in front of the starfield behind it. We all thought it could have been the ISS or a satellite, however, upon returning home, I checked NASA's J-Track software for satellite observations at 20:40 and the only objects remotely visible were 2 small orbcomm satellites (FM7 and FM8). I had a good view with the telescope and have never seen an object like this traveling east to west. ((NUFORC Note: Virtually no satellites have a groundtrack with a significant westerly component to them. PD)) |