Space junk last night?

[Hard-Drive]

I was in the middle of Portland Harbour last night, and noticed something streaking across the sky heading roughly NE, before splitting into two and apparently burning up. Whole thing lasted only a couple of seconds, definitely was not pyros, and was much brighter than your average shooting star.

Anyone know what it was? Satellite burning up?

[Eric Mc]

Sounds like it could have been.

[Flintstone]

Might have been one of my chinese lanterns. I've been boosting them lately with a slice of 'Zip' firelighter

[TheEnd]

Atmosphere breaking meteor?
It wouldn't need to be man made specifically anyway.

[jmorgan]

You wouldn't want some of this landing on your noggin
http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/reentry/recovere...

[WestYorkie]

I saw something very similar the other night. Thought it was one of the Hadleyian(sp) meteors as around 30 seconds before there was a usual meteorite with a tail etc.
But the second was like a bright flare that lasted around 2-3 seconds. Never seen one like it before.

So are you all saying it's more likely to be space junk?

[funkyrobot]

Could be space junk, or could be fireballs from the Taurids? Saw a similar thing on Sunday night when a meteor fell (slower than usual) and broke into two pieces which burned out. Looked ace!

Don't forget that the Leonids peak soon (around Nov 10th to 17th, please correct me if i'm wrong)?

[Hard-Drive]

funkyrobot said:

Saw a similar thing on Sunday night when a meteor fell (slower than usual) and broke into two pieces which burned out. Looked ace!

If it was at about 1800 then I think we're talking about the same thing here!

[Le TVR]

funkyrobot said:

Don't forget that the Leonids peak soon (around Nov 10th to 17th, please correct me if i'm wrong)?

Maximum around midnight on the 17th. Don't expect very much activity this year though.

[funkyrobot]

Hard-Drive said:

funkyrobot said:

Saw a similar thing on Sunday night when a meteor fell (slower than usual) and broke into two pieces which burned out. Looked ace!

If it was at about 1800 then I think we're talking about the same thing here!

It was around that time I think, but I was looking South East. Could have been the same thing. Funny if it was.

[funkyrobot]

Le TVR said:

funkyrobot said:

Don't forget that the Leonids peak soon (around Nov 10th to 17th, please correct me if i'm wrong)?

Maximum around midnight on the 17th. Don't expect very much activity this year though.

Bugger. The Leonids are usually quite good fun to watch.