this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2026
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What is this thing?

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Seen passing through the sky while eating lunch. Too big to be a balloon in our opinion. It appears to be rotating or fluttering

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[–] Thorry@feddit.org 20 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think it's one of those metalized plastic helium balloons. One with a tail, floating away on the wind. The sun reflecting off it makes it seem larger than it is. And being in de sky makes it hard to get a perspective on the size. It's probably closer than you'd think.

[–] Cort@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

Yep mylar balloon

[–] Horta@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 2 weeks ago

I've seen something like that, believe or not, when at a music festival a small unattended tent that was not properly staked down got caught in the wind and a thermal updraft and went way up in the skt to be blown about. Had I not seen it with my own eyes I would have never believed it was possible.

[–] lath@piefed.social 7 points 2 weeks ago

Bird drone. It forgot its feathers.

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

You didn't see anything.

[–] NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago
[–] patchedsoul@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Was cruising over metro Detroit. was too consistent to be a tent (I've seen some funny video's of those)

[–] LeFrog@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Maybe a lower orbit satellite flare?

Edit:

You can take a look here for some satellite trackers. Not sure which one is good enough.

Edit 2: as others pointed out, its very unlikely to be a satellite

[–] CorrectAlias@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Doesn't it float in front of the clouds?

[–] LeFrog@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago

I think you are right. Or maybe its a very low flying satellite in front of very high clouds ಠ‿ಠ

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] LeFrog@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago

Totally agree. I will edit my post