Amateur Stargazer Spots Secret American Military Spacecraft With Small Telescope
The astronomer uses a 14-inch Dobsonian telescope optimized for tracking satellites.

Finding secret spacecraft is what Felix SchöfbÀnker does.
In June, the Austrian amateur astronomer spied a secret Chinese spaceplane. Now, Mr. SchöfbÀnker has spotted a mysterious American military satellite.
Using a 14-inch Dobsonian telescope optimized for tracking satellites, Mr. SchöfbÀnker compared the images he collected with data from various spy satellites launched by the Pentagon, he said in an interview with Space.com.
While most of his recent finds have been known crafts deployed by the National Reconnaissance Office â including Boeingâs Future Image Architecture radar satellites and Keyhole, or KH-11, orbiters â one satellite stood out, he said.
âIn July, I managed to get a look at a satellite called âUSA 290,â which is suspected of possibly being another KH-11,â Mr. SchöfbĂ€nker told Space.com. âBut my image shows a different kind of design, which doesnât look like a typical KH-11.â
In Mr. SchöfbĂ€nkerâs image of the mysterious USA 290, a strange, 16-foot-long panel is visible, a feature not seen on KH-11 satellites. âIt could be a solar panel, although I think itâs less likely due to the fact that the panel seems to be fixed on the rest of the structure,â he said.
Adding to the satelliteâs mystery, USA 290âs movements deviated from the norm. âKH-11s are launched into sun-synchronous orbits,â Mr. SchöfbĂ€nker said. âUSA 290 wasnât.â
Despite capturing images of potentially classified material for the second time this summer, Mr. SchöfbĂ€nker is unconcerned about any repercussions: âI donât think that most countries would be too concerned about amateurs like me imaging their spacecraft. Most big countries have their own observatories dedicated to this kind of imaging.â