As you say, Kurt, it wasn't 97- 38 C. I calculate that this decayed a few hours ago, but long after the "decay" observation. I attempt to monitor the elements for all known unclassified satellites which are approaching decay, and I don't know of any which decayed between the Pegasus debris object #24366 (94- 29 PT) at about August 4.2 and today's decay of 97- 38 C. Incidentally, I calculate that another chunk of Pegasus debris, #24395 (94- 29 QY) will decay at about August 7.95. You write >> >>Just after the zenith (elevation of 80 degrees) it faded away. >>It took about 2 to 3 seconds to go from elevation +25 to the zenith. >>It went from about (alfa 13h50, delta +21) to (alfa 17h40, delta +46). >>observed at : 51 degr, 11 min N, 4 degr, 31 min E, 5m ASL > >This object was also observed by Koen Geukens as mentioned by Tristan: >>>A friend of another mailing list was posting a possible re-entry obs of a >>>unknown object. He saw a bright moving object with tail passing close to >>>Arcturus and continueing its path from West to East before exploding into a >>>fireball somewhat further. I think the key here is the statement that "It took about 2 to 3 seconds to go from elevation +25 to the zenith". This is an angular velocity of some 20 degrees per second or more, which is much too high for a decaying satellite unless it was about to fall on you :-) I suspect that the object was a bright meteor or fireball, though the correct term for a meteor which terminates in an explosion is a "bolide". A number of meteor showers are active at the moment, though I don't know of any with a radiant consistent with your reported track. Alan -- Alan Pickup | COSPAR site 2707: 55d53m48.7s N 3d11m51.2s W 156m asl Edinburgh | Home: alan@wingar.demon.co.uk +44 (0)131 477 9144 Scotland | SatEvo satellite page: http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/