July 15, 2004

Brian in Columbus: you are not alone. I, too, have seen what sounds like the same bright object you described on Steve's page -- not once, but three times on three different nights -- and I, too, am stumped.  Each time it catches my eye as the brightest object I have ever seen in the heavens, other than the sun or moon. It's white and bigger and brighter than any planet; in fact, it's blinding. It travels in a quick, steady, straight horizontal trajectory, about the same as a satellite. It shines blindingly for a few seconds, then over a few more seconds steadily fades down to about the size and brightness of an airplane, then to the pinpoint size of a satellite, then fades out. It makes no sound, glows steadily with nothing flashing, and it never reappears. I have seen it at the sky's zenith, and I have seen it just above the horizon. It behaves exactly like a satellite in high reflection, except for the incredible brightness and apparent size, and its location near the horizon that once. It does not appear to be a natural phenomenon.

I don't know about the view from a boat on the ocean, but in an area of near-zero light pollution it is jaw-dropping. Could this be a highly reflective satellite? Any "official" explanations?

Sandra in Boyers, PA