In message , Tim Lamb
writes
In message , tony sayer
writes
In article , Tim Lamb
scribeth thus
In message , tony sayer
writes
In article , Tim Lamb
scribeth thus

I saw three over about 6 minutes, night before last. This area is
heavily light polluted with Luton, Stevenage, Welwyn/Hatfield, St.
Albans all within a few miles.


The sky was clear but a bit blurred by moisture vapour. I also saw what
appeared to be a satellite of some sort, travelling North - South and
much too fast to be an aircraft.



More than likely thats the International space station, thats doing IIRC
some 17,000 MPH...

But that goes West - East sort of...

http://www.isstracker.com/historical

Hmm... maybe. Definitely North South.

This thing appeared to tumble which I assume the ISS does not do.




That might have been diffraction thru the air in the atmosphere
otherwise just an olde UFO. They've been around longer than I have;(....

I think there still some polar orbiting satellites but there not that
big .

Have a look on,

http://www.heavens-above.com/

Interesting site. Sadly they don't seem to think we should be star
gazing between 22.00 and 03.00 on the 12/13th August.

Brain spasm alert! Presumably because low orbit stuff would be in shadow
over the UK at those times.

Rather points to a fast moving aircraft.

As you say, not many going North South. What does a magnitude of 4.5
correspond to starwise?


--
Tim Lamb