[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: (meteorobs) Pinpoint flashes (fwd)
In a message dated 96-07-15 11:55:41 EDT, you write:
<< My wife and I were sitting on our porch tonight (7/12) in Sunnyvale, CA,
and each of us saw multiple STATIONARY PINPOINT lights flash quickly on
and then off (<1 sec each) in the immediate vacinity of the Big Dipper
(one near the end of the handle, one inside the bowl) There were 3-4
distinct "blips" (one MAY have been a short meteor), all of which occured
in the 10 minute span from 2240-2250 PDT. The "blips" were brighter than
the surrounding "dipper stars" at their max. The light ranged from clean
white to a "peachy" off-white. This was a REALLY unusual looking display.
All I can imagine is that either a series of meteors came in absolutely
parallel to our line of sight (from the waning shower?), or there were
multiple cosmic ray/electron shower events induced by the solar flare
(wouldn't THAT be wild).
Any thoughts? I've never seen anything like this...
~~~~~~
------------------------------ | |
Mark C. Taylor mct@interrampdot com |-OO-|
Sunnyvale, San Jose, CA | () |
Amateur Astronomer / SJAA Member --ooO--------Ooo--
Software Architect / Engineer Kilbert was here
>>
------
Larry,
If I had a nickel for everytime I saw something that looked like this, my
house would be paid for by now...I see this at least once per nite..dot it's
either an airplane of some kind or a satellite...but a real pain at first. I
too have been fooled into thinking they might be point meteors until they
reappear later.
George Z.