What did I see?

[drevilsmom]

I was on my way to work this morning, and I saw a bright light near the Big Dipper, say about 545 Central time here in Missouri. It was a reddish color, similar to Mars, but was about as bright as Saturn. It did not flicker like a star, but stayed steady more like a planet. I looked at it, was thinking about what it could be, and when I looked back a minute or so later, it was gone. I did not pay attention to see if it was moving, because I was moving at a pretty good clip down a four lane, and I was looking out my driver's side window, but I did recognize that it was right next to the Big Dipper. I know it wasn't the ISS, because it is available for viewing only in the evening for the next few days. However, I haven't seen a satellite that was reddish, like Mars. I know what a plane looks like as well. What the heck did I see!?!

[Jeff]

Iridium flares are bright and only last for a few seconds but they're really white so that's probably not it. The ISS can last for sometimes a couple of minutes, and sometimes looks a little red, but it's motion is pretty easy to see. Did you lookup the ISS pass times just to make sure that wasn't it?

[drevilsmom]

Originally Posted by jseivert

Iridium flares are bright and only last for a few seconds but they're really white so that's probably not it. The ISS can last for sometimes a couple of minutes, and sometimes looks a little red, but it's motion is pretty easy to see. Did you lookup the ISS pass times just to make sure that wasn't it?

Sure did! It was/is available for viewing only in the evenings for a while in my area. And I know that Iridium flares are usually white, which is why I thought this was odd. It wasn't blinking like a plane, either.

[Jeff]

OK, new theory. It was a stationary satellite. As the sun rose it reflected the light to where you were for those few minutes. It accounts for a reddish tint, the length of time, and lack of movement.