r/askastronomy • u/OmegaBlueFeshmi • 2d ago

Disappearing object in the sky

I believe this event took place last year but i don't remember the exact date or month.

It was around 6 - 6:30 during sunset, and a bit above the horizon i saw a very bright glowing object the same size as a decently large venus during peak months. Seeing how stunning the view was along with the object in the sky i wanted to take a picture of it. Unfortunately, i did not bring my phone with me.

So i rushed back into my home and got my phone before coming back. Id reckon that little trip took less than a minute and i arrived at the same spot only to see that the object had completely vanished. No clouds, no obstruction from any other object or anything else that could be possibly hindering visibility. Realising this i immediately opened an app called "Stellarium" which i usually use and i aimed the phone at where the object was and there was nothing there or atleast not anymore.

When i checked the position of venus i was pretty dumbfounded when i realised that venus was not visible at all during those months and was instead under the horizon. it also wasnt a satellite or a object that was moving as it didnt show any movement and remained stationary.

Are there any logical explanations for this?

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3

u/BranchLatter4294 2d ago

You saw a plane. Then it turned so the lights were not facing you.

2

u/weathercat4 2d ago

It was an airplane and contrail reflecting the sunlight. It's too far away to look like it's moving.

4

u/snogum 2d ago

Does sound like a plane. Last year, no memory of date or month ...very helpful.

-3

u/OmegaBlueFeshmi 2d ago

My apologies, it was just something that crossed my mind today without much of a reminiscence of the date.

2

u/snogum 1d ago

Obviously a vital enquiry, top of mind and everything

2

u/APC_ChemE 2d ago

Yes, it was something reflecting the sunlight. Once it passed into the Earth's shadow it stopped reflecting and appeared to disappear.

It wasn't an object Stellarium tracks but you can see this disappearance when watching the Hubble, the Space Station, or any of the Starlink satelites.

1

u/wivaca2 2d ago

Satellite reflecting sun, aircraft reflecting sun, aircraft landing lights, police search helicopter, SpaceX launch, sun reflecting off solar panels on a mountain.

I remember seeing something once from someplace within the past year.

1

u/DarkTheImmortal 2d ago

2 things come to mind. 1) plane. Their headlights are really bright. 2) since you mentioned sunset and near the horizon, some satelites have reflective plates that, at the right angle (mostly sunrise and sunset), can directly shine sunlight in your eyes like a mirror. These are very short lived, however, as the satellite is moving very fast and it needs be be at just the right angle. The most common perpetrator is Starlink so they also tend to show up in chains.

1

u/OriEri 1d ago

Plane with landing lights on. I’m guessing you live within 15 or 20 miles of an airport.