<p>At first blush, this sounds like it was a large, low-Earth orbiting satellite, like the ISS for example. Depending upon the angle above the horizon the transit time could be very low s you described. Your position would determine whether the satellite was illuminated by the Sun or not at that local time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-29T16:32:05.323Z
2017-10-29T16:32:05.323Z
Tim
<p>My guess, as @Tim said, is the ISS. I've seen it a few times, and it looks exactly as you've described. There are a few websites and mobile apps that can inform you of any satellites that are passing over your position; my go-to is <a href="http://heavens-above.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">heavens-above.com</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-29T22:58:32.593Z
2017-10-29T22:58:32.593Z
Jim421616
<p>I was staring up at the stars around 11:30 PM and noticed an object moving. It had no lights, and was not bright whatsoever. It was moving smoothly and in a straight line, except extremely fast, and dead silent. It was fairly large too, compared to how big stars look. Never would have noticed it had I not been looking at that particular region of the sky at the exact moment I did. It had to have crossed the sky in less than a minute. In fact, I feel like I've seen this same kind of thing once or twice before.</p>

<p>My question is what did I see? The fact that it was extremely dim, extremely fast, and produced no sound really confuse me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-27T06:19:03.347Z
Possible duplicate of [Unknown moving objects](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/14406/unknown-moving-objects)
J. Chomel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-27T06:23:01.157Z
also related https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/11634/star-like-light-moving-in-the-sky-what-could-it-be
J. Chomel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-27T08:20:25.193Z
Was the object point-like? I don't understand how a point can be "not bright" and "fairly large", as "big" stars only differ from small ones in brightness.
James K
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T16:11:36.207Z
Blimps can move fairly quickly. Usually have running lights though. Are you in an area they frequent?
Wayfaring Stranger
<satellite>
Confusing satellite-like object seen in night sky
xctyler
# Confusing satellite-like object seen in night sky

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-27)

I was staring up at the stars around 11:30 PM and noticed an object moving. It had no lights, and was not bright whatsoever. It was moving smoothly and in a straight line, except extremely fast, and dead silent. It was fairly large too, compared to how big stars look. Never would have noticed it had I not been looking at that particular region of the sky at the exact moment I did. It had to have crossed the sky in less than a minute. In fact, I feel like I've seen this same kind of thing once or twice before.

My question is what did I see? The fact that it was extremely dim, extremely fast, and produced no sound really confuse me.

**Tags:** satellite

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Possible duplicate of [Unknown moving objects](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/14406/unknown-moving-objects)  
> **username_1**: also related https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/11634/star-like-light-moving-in-the-sky-what-could-it-be  
> **username_2**: Was the object point-like? I don't understand how a point can be "not bright" and "fairly large", as "big" stars only differ from small ones in brightness.  
> **username_3**: Blimps can move fairly quickly. Usually have running lights though. Are you in an area they frequent?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-10-29. Score: 1

At first blush, this sounds like it was a large, low-Earth orbiting satellite, like the ISS for example. Depending upon the angle above the horizon the transit time could be very low s you described. Your position would determine whether the satellite was illuminated by the Sun or not at that local time.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-10-29. Score: 0

My guess, as @username_4 said, is the ISS. I've seen it a few times, and it looks exactly as you've described. There are a few websites and mobile apps that can inform you of any satellites that are passing over your position; my go-to is [heavens-above.com](http://heavens-above.com/).


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