Thanks to you Grant, I opened the link you point me to and found the explanation of what I saw. I knew neither that there were so many satellites nor that they can sometimes orbit in the way I saw them.
The observation of satellites and how to observe them was indicated in an old astronomy booklet that I managed to buy when I was still a little boy: The Sky Observer’s Guide, Western Publishing S. A., Genève (1966). The subject never interested me. Now, however, I do have an interest, to know whether they are actually necessary and to hope that none of these numerous objects fall on anyone’s head.
Greetings and thanks again
British Astronomical Association
Supporting amateur astronomers since 1890