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#1
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Crickey. Bright object
Went outside at 0931.GMT 31/9/2004 and looking overhead saw an extremely
bright object. Brighter than Zarya (Space Station) It did not flash like an Iridium would, but was very bright, quickly fading. It then became obscured by cloud. It appeared to be in a Polar orbit travelling south. Orbitron showed Iridium 58 as being in the location, but I always thought they were characterised by almost stroboscopic flashing. I'm located at Adelaide, South Australia: 35,00S 138.32E Merv. |
#2
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The description and time seem to fit perfectly with the predicted flare from
Iridium 58. (I have checked this from "heavens above") http://www.heavens-above.com Operational Iridium satellites generally "flare" briefly in the manner described. They brighten briefly for a few seconds and then fade again. The one you observed was predicted to be mag -4 - occasionally they can even brighten to mag -8 though never seen one this bright yet myself. You may be thinking of the small number of "flashing" Iridium satellites which are tumbling and therefore disused. Robert Holdsworth Wainuiomata New Zealand 41.261S 147.947E "Merv" wrote in message ... Went outside at 0931.GMT 31/9/2004 and looking overhead saw an extremely bright object. Brighter than Zarya (Space Station) It did not flash like an Iridium would, but was very bright, quickly fading. It then became obscured by cloud. It appeared to be in a Polar orbit travelling south. Orbitron showed Iridium 58 as being in the location, but I always thought they were characterised by almost stroboscopic flashing. I'm located at Adelaide, South Australia: 35,00S 138.32E Merv. |
#3
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"Robert Holdsworth" wrote in message ... The description and time seem to fit perfectly with the predicted flare from Iridium 58. (I have checked this from "heavens above") http://www.heavens-above.com Operational Iridium satellites generally "flare" briefly in the manner described. They brighten briefly for a few seconds and then fade again. The one you observed was predicted to be mag -4 - occasionally they can even brighten to mag -8 though never seen one this bright yet myself. You may be thinking of the small number of "flashing" Iridium satellites which are tumbling and therefore disused. Robert Holdsworth Wainuiomata New Zealand 41.261S 147.947E Thanks to you and others who responded I now know it was an Iridium I saw. I now realise that they don't just flash quickly. Merv "Merv" wrote in message ... Went outside at 0931.GMT 31/9/2004 and looking overhead saw an extremely bright object. Brighter than Zarya (Space Station) It did not flash like an Iridium would, but was very bright, quickly fading. It then became obscured by cloud. It appeared to be in a Polar orbit travelling south. Orbitron showed Iridium 58 as being in the location, but I always thought they were characterised by almost stroboscopic flashing. I'm located at Adelaide, South Australia: 35,00S 138.32E Merv. |
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