BREST (29) 17.02.2013

A witness in Brest reported the same nighttime phenomenon on 2 occasions 15 days apart at the same time of day: a very bright point passed over his home and suddenly disappeared. The case is dated 17 February 2013. The Calsky listing of objects visible from Brest that evening shows “Cosmos 2297 Rocket,” catalogue number 23405, international designation 1994-077-B, entering Earth’s shadow at 20:04, the exact reported time of the phenomenon’s disappearance. It was launched from Baikonur on 24 November 1994. GEIPAN notes that many satellites of differing brightness are visible each evening at this hour and season, although the weather is not always favourable, and refers to the Calsky record. GEIPAN classifies the case A, identifying the object as the third stage of the Zenit-2 launcher for Cosmos 2297; the source says the satellite also remained in orbit.