Low perigees are the trademarks of some decaying satellites especially from geostationary transfer orbit. It is conceivable if you track the perigee and are in the right place, you could see a glow as the atmosphere interacts with the satellite before it swings back out. Atmospheric drag can severely affect the orbits of some spacecraft, especially those that might have a 'light' construction and hence are affected significantly by solar radiation pressure. Tracking these objects is a real challenge as they are whipped around from day to day. The drag term of the orbital elements varies considerably, and one usually has to define an observing window for a number of minutes on either side of the predicted time.
Reconnaissance satellites operate at low altitudes and make infrequent, speedy passes over an area.
These are fun to try to spot. Serious observers can plot the light curves of tumbling rockets in order to obtain information on their rotations and rotational changes over time. These are dynamic opportunities for which study can be done for many years. Failures of some satellites mean that they can change their orientation, rotation rate or can even be maneuvered out of orbit. Trash can be accidentally or intentionally jettisoned by EVA astronauts working on a manned space station.