"If you have ever star-gazed shortly after sunset or before sunrise, you have probably noticed one or two "stars" sailing gracefully across the sky. These are Earth-orbiting satellites, visible due to the reflection of the Sun's light off their surfaces toward the observer. Hundreds of satellites are visible to the unaided eye; thousands are visible using binoculars and telescopes. Observing satellites has many enthusiasts around the world."
And many congregate at the Visual Satellite Observer's Home Page. This is a very interesting Web site and I hope it will solve some of the mysteries I have encountered while stargazing with my new telescope.