A Space & astronomy forum. SpaceBanter.com

Go Back   Home » SpaceBanter.com forum » Astronomy and Astrophysics » Satellites
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Iridium 64 companion?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 29th 08, 01:24 PM posted to sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Iridium 64 companion?

Last night my wife and I unexpectedly observed an Iridium flare from
my back yard, which I estimated reached a maximum magnitude of about
-6. When I later checked this out on Heavens Above, it appears to
match a predicted pass for the Iridium 64 satellite.

We've both seen many of these events in the past, and this one seemed
pretty typical at first. However, a short time later (maybe 15 to 30
seconds?), we noticed a second satellite flare in the same location in
the sky. This flare was almost a carbon copy of the first (it
appeared and disappeared in the same places, and lasted about the same
amount of time), except that this one was significantly dimmer (about
magnitude -1).

The similarities between the two events suggest that they are related
in some way. Was the second event a different Iridium satellite (a
replacement sharing the same orbit), a piece of debris from Iridium 64
(seems unlikely), or a totally unrelated satellite (also seems
unlikely)?

I've never heard of a similar double-event, and am curious if anyone
can shed any light on the matter.

Thanks.
  #2  
Old September 1st 08, 04:10 AM posted to sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
JAY RESPLER
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default Iridium 64 companion?

On Aug 29, 8:24 am, wrote:
Last night my wife and I unexpectedly observed an Iridium flare from
my back yard, which I estimated reached a maximum magnitude of about
-6. When I later checked this out on Heavens Above, it appears to
match a predicted pass for the Iridium 64 satellite.

We've both seen many of these events in the past, and this one seemed
pretty typical at first. However, a short time later (maybe 15 to 30
seconds?), we noticed a second satellite flare in the same location in
the sky. This flare was almost a carbon copy of the first (it
appeared and disappeared in the same places, and lasted about the same
amount of time), except that this one was significantly dimmer (about
magnitude -1).

The similarities between the two events suggest that they are related
in some way. Was the second event a different Iridium satellite (a
replacement sharing the same orbit), a piece of debris from Iridium 64
(seems unlikely), or a totally unrelated satellite (also seems
unlikely)?

I've never heard of a similar double-event, and am curious if anyone
can shed any light on the matter.

Thanks.



Not so common, but you can have double flares. I see that on the
evening of Aug. 28, Iridium 74 followed Ir64 by 40-70 sec,
Jay
(a group founder)
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Unseen companion to Sol Ookie Wonderslug Misc 16 May 10th 06 07:44 PM
GPS and Iridium Charles Talleyrand Technology 1 January 20th 06 04:36 AM
Hubbel sees companion of Polaris Rich Amateur Astronomy 4 January 13th 06 02:49 AM
Sun May Have A Companion? Sleuths? Mad Scientist Misc 2 October 2nd 04 06:10 PM
iridium x 2 Craig MacDougal Amateur Astronomy 7 December 18th 03 09:45 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 SpaceBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.