NUFORC Sighting 31429

Occurred: 2003-09-12 20:40 Local
Reported: 2003-09-12 20:29 Pacific
Duration: 2 minutes
No of observers: 5

Location: Fort Plain, NY, USA

Shape: Triangle
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aircraft nearby

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

Posted 2003-09-17