Expert: Paul Wagner - 4/5/2008

Question
From Yuma, AZ, looking west at what I believe is Orion (the three stars in a row as the belt), and following north from the three stars at about the same distance from the horizon, is a white object with what appears to be red blinking light and green blinking light.  The lights are visible with the naked eye, and with binoculars you can definitely see the red and green blinking lights.  It does not move as an airplane, and has been in the same relative position the last five nights, since I first saw it.  Can you tell me what it is?  Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hi Mike

I am in Napa Valley, so this one is a bit tought for me...but if you can see blinking lights in binoculars, this is something that is pretty close--within about ten miles of you.  That means it is some kind of navigational aid for pilots ( a tower or mountain ).  Both usually those will only have red lights.  The green lights usually mean that it is flying.  If the red light is to the right at you look at it, the object is approaching you. If it is on the left as you look at it, the object is moving away from you.

If the two lights seem to flicker back and forth, and are so close together that you can't tell...well then it might be a star very close to the horizon, and the light it being diffracted by the atmostphere.  

Paul Wagner