A week or so ago I was using my solar filter to observe for the first time and I saw an object transit the solar disk. It was rather small, smaller than the smaller sun spots seen at the time, but yet large enough to notice some shape. I am guessing that this was some sort of satellite, but I suppose the old weather balloon could be the culprit. This was not a plane.
In any case in the dozen times or so that I have used my new telescope at night, I can say that seeing satellite transits are not that rare, I have seen at least a few. Also, small meteors as well.
Is this a common observance. Also, given the fact that the solar transit offers a silowet (gosh I wish they had a spell checker on this thing!), it seems that these are unique instances where the actual shape of the satellite can be observed rather than just a glint of light off of a surface.
Alan
In any case in the dozen times or so that I have used my new telescope at night, I can say that seeing satellite transits are not that rare, I have seen at least a few. Also, small meteors as well.
Is this a common observance. Also, given the fact that the solar transit offers a silowet (gosh I wish they had a spell checker on this thing!), it seems that these are unique instances where the actual shape of the satellite can be observed rather than just a glint of light off of a surface.
Alan
