[sac-forum] Re: Possible nutcase email....

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:34:38 -0700, Thad Robosson wrote:

> Subj: Can You Help?
> Date: 11/22/2003
> To: kpno@xxxxxxxx
> 
> My name is Lee Anderson, and I live in Quartzsite, AZ.  Over the past few
> months my neighbors and myself have been observing a light in the night sky
> that we cannot identify.  During the summer months it was seen in the West
> about 30 degrees above the horizon just after sunset.  It would then go
> below the horizon around one hour later.  Now the same light can be seen in
> the North eastern sky after sunset, moving in a southerly direction during
> the night.  At around 10 PM it appears due east, towards Phoenix, about 50
> degrees above the eastern horizon.
>        This light shines very bright, mainly a white light, with red and
> green colors also visible with the naked eye.  Using binoculars it appears
> to rotate at a high speed.  It is not an aircraft. Could this be a satellite
> in low orbit, and if so would you know which one?  I have tried various NASA
> websites without success.  Hope you can give me and my neighbors some
> insight as to what we are seeing.
> 
> 
> The reply was.....
> 
>   Hello Lee,
> 
>   Having observed for many years in Western Az alongside many experienced
> observers, I can assure you that most likely you are seeing some of the
> brighter stars or planets through turbulent atmosphere.  The colors you
> describe, and even the "rotating" aspect, all jives with the effects of the
> atmosphere when unsteady.  The same effects can affect the appearance of
> airplane lights at a distance, and given you live practically under the
> flight path between LA and Phx, I would fully expect this to be the case.
> Bright objects like flares, airplanes, planets, bright stars, and even a
> car's highbeams can have some very confusing appearances at distances. I
> wish I could help definitively identify your objects, but my and the club's
> collective experience is that you are seeing something of what is described
> above.
>   Thad

Capella rises in the NE right now.  I would appear to head south as it
rises.

It could also be Alnath (Beta Tauri) or Aldebaran.  These last two are
more directly east at 22:00 (80 and 100 degrees azimuth, respectively).
Capella and Aldebaran are both are 1 degree less than 50 degrees altitude.
Aldebaran rises ENE after 18:00 (Phoenix locale).

Need a more specific date than "Summer" to determine which star is in the
SW.

        -Paul

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