Can Someone Help Me Find a Satellite Tracking Site?

I saw something that I believe was sunlight reflecting off of a satellite or the ISS. I've tried to locate a site to tell me historic orbit data and verify that assumption, but can't.

I have the location/date/time of the sighting (41.28.49 North, 88.03.57 West on July 15th 2007, approximately 8 p.m. basically Joliet, IL). I would like to believe it was something I can explain. If not...then it's a set of 3 orbs at very high altitude randomly spinning around each other as they tracked from west to east in the evening sky (just at sunset). They disappeared just as they passed directly overhead (because I could no longer see the reflected light from that angle).

reply to post by JoeBarna


Check out the Heavens-Above web site. You can punch in your location and it will give past info and predictions on space objects that pass overhead. It sounds like you might have seen an Iridium satellite. They are particularly reflective and easy to see.

Here's the link:

Heavens-Above

EDIT: I looked at your description again, and that doesn't sound anything like an Iridium flare. Defunct satellites can tumble and appear to be flashing, but it sounds like you saw something very strange.

[edit on 12/11/2008 by Rotoplooker]

Thank you! I'm at the site now. Hopefully I can find the historic data.

Nope, couldn't find historic data. I created accounts at both NASA and DOD, we'll see what happens next.

I'm still open for other suggestions.

Thanks Rotoplooker. I learned how to find historic data on the Heavens Above site from another thread.

There were no satellites tracked by Heavens Above that matched my sighting's time frame and flight path.

There were four of us in my party that saw this phenomena. I'm still not saying it's definitely a UFO, because there's just so much trash orbiting the earth nowadays. But now I'm definitely considering that it could have been. My 15 year old daughter who was one of the others who saw this now thinks it's cool.

Originally posted by JoeBarna
I would like to believe it was something I can explain. If not...then it's a set of 3 orbs at very high altitude randomly spinning around each other as they tracked from west to east in the evening sky (just at sunset). They disappeared just as they passed directly overhead (because I could no longer see the reflected light from that angle).

I suspect you probably saw one of the 'secret' US naval surveilance trios (Eg NOSS). There are several in orbit, which traverse the sky in tandum. Their appearance and disappearance is due to the angle of the sun, their position in orbit and your observing site. They disappear as they move into Earth shadow.
I think you'll be hard pressed to find tracking data going back to 2007. This would require the two line elements for thousands of orbiting bodies from the relevant date. These could be inserted into conventional satellite tracking software to see if there were any matches. A very lengthy job with little chance of success. The 'secret' satellite orbits aren't published anyway, you just have to be lucky to see them.

WG3

[edit on 15-12-2008 by waveguide3]

[edit on 15-12-2008 by waveguide3]

Originally posted by waveguide3The 'secret' satellite orbits aren't published anyway, you just have to be lucky to see them.

Wouldn't be secret if the published them now would they?

You can download and install a satellite tracking software package called Orbitron. It has around 22,000 satellites listed.

You can enter historic dates/times or put in a later date for tracking of satellites.

Software is here and it is free.

reply to post by zorgon


Looks like he can start publishing the seret satellite tracks now.

That is if its not a Tesla craft ( aka UFO) track.
Then call them secret satellite or Tesla craft tacks.

try www.spaceweather.com...

Originally posted by hinky and it is free.

FREE is GOOD Thanks for the link.

I wonder if they have Santa on that list... it looks like it uses Norad

Originally posted by podizzle
try www.spaceweather.com...

I love how you can track the ISS TOOLBAG
I have another couple of days until it passes over me

ISS Toolbag 06:54:06 am SSW 06:56:24 46° 6.8 (dim)

Thanks for the link!


[edit on 12/15/2008 by greeneyedleo]