Can you identify this sky/space object?

[FurtiveFreddy]

I'm doing some star trail photo tests (when there's a clear sky) and looking at one I did yesterday, among the various planes and satellites spoiling the shot was an object I can't identify.

Here's the full frame photo:



and zoomed into the object in question (the four elongated dots next to the arrow):



This was taken just outside Camberley, Surrey and the object was due west from my position and observed (by the camera, not me) on 6th August at 00:40 - 00:42hrs.

The time it took to cover the distance seems much slower than any aircraft might and the light from it is pulsing at a much lower frequency than you'd expect if it was a helicopter or such.

I've checked Stellarium and Heavens Above to see if it could be a satellite, but nothing shows up at that position at that time.

So I'm giving it to the PH space detectives to solve the puzzle...

[Eric Mc]

It could have been a piece of space debris (like an upper stage from a rocket or a discarded panel) tumbling in orbit.

Not everything is listed on Heavens Above or Stellarium.

[FurtiveFreddy]

From what I've seen myself less than 50% of satellites I've captured are on those databases, I agree.

A tumbling object could fit the profile...

[Sylvaforever]

Is there any angular movement at all?

Sorry just re read thread yes it looks like a rotating single object

Good capture indeed and even better interpretation

Look for it again when you can?

Edited by Sylvaforever on Wednesday 9th August 02:37

[V8LM]

How do you know how quickly is was moving and pulsing? Couldn't it have been at any time in the two minutes.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Sylvaforever said:

Look for it again when you can?

The question is when though? (and when will all this bloody weather go away so I can see a clear sky again!)

V8LM said:

How do you know how quickly is was moving and pulsing? Couldn't it have been at any time in the two minutes.

That isn't one exposure, it's several 10 second exposures stacked. So I can time the object pretty accurately. And I know it was travelling upwards in the photo, so not some object within the atmosphere falling to the ground.

[Eric Mc]

Here's some video footage shot a couple of months ago of the Dragon capsule making its way into orbit. If you look carefully, you can see the jettisoned side fairings brightening and darkening as they tumble in orbit. The steady bright objects are the Dragon itself and its booster stage following behind slightly.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN2cLT11qJU

[Sylvaforever]

You could [if you haven't already] try one of the more mainstream astronomy forums, MMPL or suchlike, don't have knowledge of particular man made debris interest forums BUT there's bound to some out there lol.

Please keep us updated on this interesting subject.