ParaNet BBS/alaobj

ParaNet BBS/alaobj

File Name:	alaobj.txt
Author:	Unknown
Date:	Unknown
Posting BBS:	Unknown
BBS Main Page:	ParaNet Main Page
Key Words:	ParaNet, UFO, Ufology

(2366)  Sun 4 Oct 92  6:22p
By: Bill Nunnelee
To: All
Re: Mystery Object
St:                                                                       2623>
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@UFGATE newsin 1.27
From: bill.nunnelee@the-matrix.com (Bill Nunnelee)
Date: 3 Oct 92 14:09:00 GMT
Organization: The MATRIX BBS - Birmingham, AL - 205-323-2016
Message-ID: <6636.409.uupcb@the-matrix.com>
Newsgroups: sci.space


    Several members of the Birmingham Astronomical Society observed an
unusual fireball, or possibily reentering space debris, on the night of
Wednesday September 30th at 8:17 CDT.  Six of us were at a location
just south of the city when an object was noticed traveling across the
northern sky in an easterly direction (roughly from Corona Borealis to
Aries and passing very near the Andromeda Galaxy).  The object was
approximately magnitude -1 or -2 and consisted of a pointlike head and a
30 degree or so "vapor trail"-like tail.  It moved at a speed consitent
with a satellite in low Earth orbit...which is to say, fast for an
aircraft, yet very slow for a meteor.  Of course, there was no source
for reflected light, and the object did not dim in what would have been
the Earth's shadow; in fact, its appearance remained extremely constant
from horizon to horizon (no tumbling, breaking up, lingering train, wind
dispersion of the trail, or noise).  One observer using binoculars said
that it looked the same through them.
    What really makes it interesting is that a second group of three
B.A.S.ers happened to see the same object from a location about 50
miles to the northeast.  There, it took a more southerly path across the
sky.  It passed between Beta and Gamma Lyrae, near Gamma Cygni, and near
Alpha Andromedae...in other words, parallel and roughly 20 degrees south
of the first track.  This would seem to rule out any sort of high-flying
aircraft.  One observer was even able to capture several seconds of it
on video.  Since he had previously been recording other objects with the
same settings (Venus and crescent Moon at sunset), it should be possible
to get a good fix on its brightness.
    We would very much be interested in any other observations of this
objects from amateur astronomers across the southeastern U.S.  If we
could get good timings and/or positions, it should be possible to
determine its altitude precisely and perhaps its orbit as well.  Also,
is anyone aware of a satellite, upper stage, etc., that might have
reentered the atmosphere at that time?



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