Stargazers from all over the Maritimes spent Thursday talking about a strange sight spotted in the sky Wednesday night.
Flashes in the sky were seen in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, but local astronomers believe they aren’t likely the same event.
Amateur astronomer Jeff Donaldson knew exactly what he was looking at when he snapped a picture of an object in the sky outside his home in Enfield, N.S.
“What you see in the picture is the actual line that the International Space Station took through the handle of the Big Dipper,” he explains.
Donaldson captured an image of the International Space Station as it travelled over his home Wednesday night. He knew it was coming and had his camera ready.
“It probably took about three to four minutes to complete,” says Donaldson. “It was probably about 400 kilometres above the earth.”
Astronomer Dave Lane says last night’s conditions were perfect for those hoping to spot the rare sight.
“When the skies are clear, we do see the International Space Station,” says Lane, the director of the Saint Mary’s Observatory. “Last night there was a pass between 7:00 and 8:00 and it would have been seen over the Maritimes.”
While the International Space Station sighting was expected, a strange spectacle spotted in the sky over Black River Bridge, N.B. was not.
Initially thinking it was a flare, an area resident armed with a camera snapped several pictures of two different streaks in the sky just before 6 p.m.
Lane believes it could be contrails – vapour tails that sometimes follow behind an aircraft.
“The angle that the sun was shining on the plane from where she was standing caused it to be extra bright,” explains Lane.
Many Maritimers will have another chance to catch the International Space Station Thursday night by looking west.
A bright, star-like object will rise halfway up the sky just before 8:30 p.m. and disappear a few minutes later.
Donaldson says he will be watching the skies again, with his telescope and camera ready.
“I just like to look up at the sky to see what’s up there. It’s amazing what you can see.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Felicia Yap
