Seeking thoughts on whether my 'sighting' has simple explanation

Hi. I have just been for my evening walk in Australia. I saw something that may or may not have a mundane explanation. I'd appreciate input.

I saw a white light flash once, as bright as a relatively dim star (clearly visible but certainly not as bright as the brightest stars). The flash was brief (perhaps half a second).

After it flashed, I watched. There was another flash a minimum of 10 seconds later (probably more) in the same region of space, between a fairly bright star and a dimmer one to its east. Then a third flash in the same region after another 10 + seconds.

Shortly after I saw the third 'flash', in the same region (between the same two stars) there was a streak of light about half to two thirds of a fingers length with an outstretched arm. By this time, I had oriented my wife to the space. She says there was another streak, the same as the first, soon after it. I didn't see the second streak.

I watched the area for about ten minutes after this and saw nothing more.

It could easily have been a plane, though I have never seen flashes with such time intervals. It could easily have been a shooting star, except neither of us thought it quite looked like one and, more importantly, as a statistician, everything tells me the odds of a shooting star occurring in the same region as a flashing light within a few seconds by chance are very remote. Of course, it could be a coincidence, but I am most intrigued.

Would really appreciate any thoughts.

There are a variety of meteor-showers this time of year; but most are earlier or later than this time of June.

Originally posted by SaviorComplex
There are a variety of meteor-showers this time of year; but most are earlier or later than this time of June.

OK, that's helps a bit. However, the flashes of light were categorically not meteors. They were stationary and lasted a half second to a second (they lasted long enogh to see they were statioary). They had moved by the time the following flash occurred, and I saw three, all 10+ secs apart.

They were followed by lights, in exactly the same region of space (between two stars) that followed a straight line. These 'streaks' could have been meteors but as I said, the chances are extraordinarily remote that the two would occur within seconds of each other in the same tiny region of space, yet be unconnected. Possible but extraordinarily hard to believe.

The streaks did not look like any shooting stars I've ever seen -- too 'thick' and, though fast, not nearly as fast as any shotting stars I've seen. They moved almost directly across the horizon, slightly down (perhaps 10 degrees max from horizontal and perhaps 30 degrees above horizon).

Oh well, guess I'll never know like most :-)

[edit on 5-6-2008 by 987931]

[edit on 5-6-2008 by 987931]