Several years ago, while leading a Sierra Club backpacking trip in Matterhorn Canyon in northern Yosemite, most of the group was participating in our nightly ritual of watching for shooting stars and satellites. As one *very* bright satellite was moving across the sky, we (and our surroundings) were suddenly illuminated by a bright flash, similar to a camera flash. At first, each person thought that they were having some sort of "very personal problem" -- but were greatly relieved when it became clear that the flash was observed by all. Thinking that the next event was going to be the appearance of aliens, we were again relieved when nothing further happened, except to talk about what the heck had happened for the remainder of the evening!

Spotting satellites from a campground is way cooler than from an urban area. Not just because of the light pollution, but because of the noise pollution. In the middle of the woods, where all you hear is your breathing, watching something float across the sky while lying on your back on a sleeping bag is pretty magical.

Dave's experience sounds unnerving but extremely cool. And I certainly agree with GardenChamp's viewpoint -- I do enjoy watching the blinking satellites. Still, am I the only one who thinks the night might seem even more majestic if the stars and planets didn't have to compete with metallic litter blasted into the sky by man (not that I don't appreciate all that satellites contribute)?

I had a similar experience while vacationing in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. My husband and I were gazing at the stars when it looked like someone flahsed a headlight in the sky toward us. It was almost blinding. We both started to say something when it flashed again. I think it was probably a defunct satellite tumbling overhead, catching the sunlight just right to produce the bright flares.

During Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee (Google it), one of the nightly events is called an "owl prowl". A naturalist takes you on a winter night hike into Smoky Mountains NP and you walk into the woods a short way and call the owls in. My very first experience with an owl prowl was on a very cold clear night in February, and although we didn't stir up any owls, the satellite viewing was amazingly clear. Standing in the woods with a group of deathly quiet people staring at the clear night sky was really a great experience.

Whenever , I think of space satellites, I think of Billy Brag's "New England:"

I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them but they were only satellites.
It's wrong to wish on space hardware.
I wish, I wish, I wish you'd care.

It may be wrong to wish on them :) but I do find satellites are fun to ponder as part of the dance of chemistry and gravity so far above our heads.