UFOs or a trick of the light?
SATELLITES and space stations have both been offered as explanations for strange lights seen in the sky over North East Lincolnshire.
As reported, two people independently contacted the Grimsby Telegraph about the odd occurrences which they saw in the Laceby area.
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Is this the source of the mystery? NASA provided this artist's concept of an Iridium satellite orbiting the earth.
Hereford School pupil Emma Broadbent (15) and Nige Allison (35), from Grimsby, both saw "protractor shaped" flashes in the sky which they could not explain at about 8pm on March 23.
Meanwhile, Pat Jones (52) and her daughter Claire Smith (20) were with their neighbour, Amy Newport (19), when they spotted a multi-coloured flashing object hovering in the sky above their homes in Grimsby's Grafton Street.
They say they spotted the object at about 9.30pm on Wednesday night.
Various theories have been offered about what they might have seen.
Miguel Cooksey (44), from Grasby, said: "There has been a lot of activity in the sky over the last week with the International Space Station being visible in the sky as it re-angled its solar panels."
The station is being constructed in orbit, and will be finished in 2011.
"There has also been the launch of a space shuttle, which was on Thursday," he added.
"Both have been visible from our area recently."
However, astronomer Mike Brightmore, secretary of the Cleethorpes and District Astronomical Society, said: "It wouldn't be the space station. They look like a bright star in the sky but it could be an Iridium flare.
"Iridium is a company responsible for up to 80 communication satellites in the sky which have very large antenna attached to them.
"When they get turned around they catch the light and the result is a flash which can last anything up to three seconds. That is known as a flare.
"Although we probably can't look back to March 23, there are websites which will be able to say when you will see them over the next week.
"You can see them fairly often but many people will dismiss what they see as their eyes playing tricks on them."
But Mrs Jones remains adamant that she spotted a UFO in the sky above Grimsby.
She said: "I've been reading the stories in the Grimsby Telegraph and they scare me quite a bit.
"I just hope we are not being bombarded by aliens."
6 Comments
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by sharleana, grimsby grafton st
Monday, June 15 2009, 1:31PM
“My mam and me saw it aswell pat, claire and amy. We was in the livingroom then went to the back garden..x”
by Ross, Caistor area
Sunday, April 05 2009, 7:08PM
“Satellites & space stations are known of, thus others things are UFO's - unidentified flying object, that basically they haven't got a clue what is was! It would have to be metallic to pick up on a radar, so it won't show if its isn't and would have to be a visual sighting!”
by me, here
Sunday, April 05 2009, 11:00AM
“flying objects lol maybe just a police helicopter as per usual every night”
by Guess Who????, Home
Saturday, April 04 2009, 4:37PM
“It is probably nothing more than the search light that pans the sky every night based at the Riverhead.
Why they bother, is another question!”
by Pensioner, Immingham
Saturday, April 04 2009, 2:11PM
“just type in "heavens above" in google, for the free info on nearly all visible transits. You can configure this site to tell you when "misreported" UFO's go over your area!
Iridium flares are spectacular when near magnitude minus 8 .......but you do need a very accurate clock!
Incidentally, I doubt if space ships use navigation lights or strobes! What is often seen around town is the police helicopter. It's very bright nav lights and anti collision strobes do look strange especially if you can't hear it. The rotor does occasionally reflect the lights in an arc, as seen from below.”