How do you confirm sighting of comets (or other objects) in the sky? - Forums

Topic starter

Sep 25, 2022

Good evening all,

I just saw what I assume was a comet, which moved really fast and disappeared in the sky really quickly. I checked Stellarium, because it shows things like meteor shower, rolled back time but didn't see anything detected.

How do you go about confirming that what you really just saw was a meteor / comet?
Is there any online website or platform you can check as soon as you see it?

Thank you!

Pictures below are taken 35 seconds apart:

2022/09/24 7:40.11 (EASTERN)

2022/09/24 7:40.46 (EASTERN)

Engaging

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

Sep 25, 2022

I don't think it is a comet, like not at all. Anyhow, here is the link:

https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/mpc.html

Christoph Lichtblau

IOTD Staff

Sep 25, 2022

This is a starting rocket. Please go and look for a launch at that time. Maybe one of Elons. Muuuuuuch to fast for a comet.

Cheers, Christoph

Christoph Lichtblau

IOTD Staff

Sep 25, 2022

It was a Falcon 9 rocket start.

AC1000

Sep 25, 2022 · Edited: Sep 25, 2022

On this site you can get informations about current comets and their positions:

https://theskylive.com

Further down there is a list of bright comets, click on will open a map with the current position.

Cs Harald

dreamsandmonsters

Topic starter

Sep 25, 2022

Thank you all! I'll check out the links.

I thought I saw the rocket was launched from California so it didn't make sense, but now I'm seeing Florida. We live on the East Coast, close to MD. I noticed something South and it was heading towards North. It disappeared on the East. Now if it's launched from Florida that'd make total sense for our location.

Would a comet trail be less wide, or not necessarily? Are their speed not really noticeable in a usual fashion?

Lynn K

Sep 25, 2022 · Edited: Sep 25, 2022

I saw it too from E. Pennsylvania (7-8pm EST) I think it wa s a SpaceX launch. My wife saw it on TV news.
Lynn