High caliber observation geodetic calc
A few evenings ago I was sitting outside with dogs staring at the stars. At around 10:30 PM CST I observed an object that was traveling west to east at a high rate of speed. I’m right at about 35 degrees N lat and 97.3 degrees W long. The object was most nearly directly over head. With obstacles considered I was able to see this thing from an elevation angle of about 80 degrees above the west horizon (almost overhead) and it traveled west where I lost it behind a large cedar at an elevation angle of approx. 45 degrees above the east horizon. It’s speed was greater than any satellite or aircraft I have ever seen in my 67 years of watching the night sky. I timed it and it took 3 seconds to cover the approx. 55 degrees of arc in my field of view.
I am of the opinion its illumination was a reflection of the sun. It was not unlike a lot of high aircraft and low satellites that are visible after sunset with an altitude that places them still within view of the sun. As the object approached an elevation angle of 45 degrees above the west horizon it dimmed and disappeared, I’m assuming, as it entered the shadow of the earth.
Given all those factors I have attempted to calculate the object’s altitude. From that I should be able to calculate its speed. But I find myself getting lost in the numbers. Is there anybody out there that might simplify the matter for this old fart?
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