What was the bright light burst?

Question

10:30pm 7/31/08 northern hemisphere crystal isolated circular burst, What could it be?

I've done some research, it could have been three different things: satellite glare, meteor, quark star formation. My observations were: Looking directly at the area the burst happened, I observed a dime sized (at arms length) bright white burst that lasted less than a half second.

After seeing this, many satellites passed overhead and the space station. some of them were faint, the space station was bright. I do not think it was a satellite for there was no sign of the satellite before or after the burst, and I do not think a reflecting or even exploding satellite could produce the size of this. I have seen many meteors, this was much brighter and quicker than anything I have seen, with no tail whatsoever. I have some phone calls in to see about any gamma or x ray bursts. What do you think?

http://www.ucalgary.ca/mp2003/news/june0...

Answer 1

If it had lasted a little longer I would have guessed an exploding meteor.  Those things are BRIGHT.  They illuminate from horizon to horizon.  But the two I have been fortunate enough to witness have been several seconds in duration.