Observing the Leonids

[Uryoces]

The sky was cloudy here in Pugetropolis [shock!], so I didn't see any. I definitely did last year [2001]. It seemed to be about one meteor every 10 seconds, and most of them left visible trails that faded after about 2-3 seconds. Very spectacular! I sat in the middle of my parking lot in my office chair looking skyward. The security gaurd was suspicious/amused until I had him look up.

On the subject of spooky sky objects: I used to live in Lacey, WA next to a small body of water called Hicks Lake. There had been three trees near the boat launch that were threatening to fall, so they cut them down. However, in their wisdom, they left the stumps and carved them into chairs. There was one in the middle that fit me perfectly. I'd sit in my throne and watch the fish jump at the mosquitos, the moon wheel across the sky, and the occassional Aurora Borealis.

One night, I was looking at a broken cloud cover, and I saw a bright satellite pass overhead. Then I saw a second one in the same orbit, then I saw a third. Three co-orbiting objects. I could understand a Progress module on an approach with MIR, but not three objects.

[warch]

Now I really, really want a stump chair.

[MaggieL]

Originally posted by Uryoces

One night, I was looking at a broken cloud cover, and I saw a bright satellite pass overhead. Then I saw a second one in the same orbit, then I saw a third. Three co-orbiting objects. I could understand a Progress module on an approach with MIR, but not three objects.

There are a boatload of survelliance satelites in polar low-earth orbit, and many of them are ground observable. Did these sats pretty much transit from due south to due north or vice versa? If so that's probably what you saw.