Joep
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 351
- Location
- Netherlands
I have been stargazing and doing astrophotography for a while using a telescope. So, one night I had the whole thing setup, the computerized mount, my main scope and a tracking scope when suddenly from the corner of my eye I saw this yellowish-orange object flying past the night-sky. It didn't flicker like a plane, it sure wasn't a satellite because it was too fast for that. A computerized mount is way slow to aim so I didn't get a closer look at it either.
I ran inside to my laptop, to see if anyone was online on the various astro-forums. I visited some websites for reporting sky objects and that. I found no answers so I didn't know what I observed. I was really excited! I didn't know what I saw, but I was sure it was something special and couldn't wait to discuss it on my favorite astro-forum next day. I wouldn't be the first amateur astronomist who discovered something significant.
And then, all of a sudden I saw another one approaching from the exact same direction! Careful not to trip over one of the various power and data cables I jumped and ran into the house to grab my binoculars. When I ran outside again it was seconds from getting out of view again. Binoculars are easy to aim, and mine were self focusing. And gone was the mystery. What I 'discovered' was nothing more than a Chinese flying lantern.
hahahahah
