ATS Guidance required

Hi all

I need you assistance

Last night at approx 9pm (GMT) I was looking up at the sky for about 30 minutes (Very clear night - No cloud cover), and I noticed the following:

All the stars as usual
2 Satellites
1 VERY unusual star - at least I think it was a star.

It was not moving, but it was very bright, and it was flickering colours very quickly, from red to green to white. At first I thought it must be my eyes, but then I looked at the other stars and this one was distictly different - I showed my wife and she agreed. It was flickering all these different colours.

I looked for it again after approx 2 hours and it was still there.

I am not saying that it was a UFO or maybe I am because I don't know what it was ?

Any ideas ?

Thanks.

reply to post by Pyridion


it was probably sirius. what direction were you looking in?

Some of the larger stars at night really flicker fast and change colour, could just have been a bright star if it was still stationery for 2 hours.

Hi guys

Thanks for the reply.

I did think it was some sort of star - I have done a little checking into Sirius, and that seems to be the one.

However, it was stunning though - Flashing red, green and white - Try and see it if you get the chance.

Thanks again.

It could have been Mars, which is in a good viewing position right now in conjunction with the Gemini meteor shower.

I don't know if Jupiter is visible, but that is a bright one too.

Things flicker because of atmospheric distortion.

Sirius doesn't flicker, but there is a star that does change colours more times than any other.

From a UK view point it's usually close to the horizon.

Sirius is approximatly south west of Orion. Can't miss Sirius.

This here might help you locate it.. and name it
www.fourmilab.ch...

reply to post by Extralien


sirius does 'appear to' flicker - all stars do but not planets (in general).

here is the explanation why.

Yeah, I do realise that.

What I was referring to was the flickers of colour which the OP was talking about.

Just didn't make myself very clear on what I meant.

Thanks anyway though.

there was a lot of calls to the james whale show on talksport on the same night... astronomers then called in and confirmed it was sirius..

supposed to have been some sight though, very very bright..