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Double Iridium flare

  • 16-01-2011 7:34pm
    #1
    calchas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 79 ✭✭


    All

    Just got in from observing dual iridium flares:
    Located in D15
    Iridium 51 predicted to flare to -4.9 at 18:46:41 -- az 162.0 alt 36.8
    Iridium 97 predicted to flare to -6.8 at 18:46:43 -- az 162.7 alt 36.6

    Moon was out and bright in a clear sky with Dublin lights to the south east. The moon was reducing visibility of the stars a lot.

    First one then a few seconds later both became visible above Menkar, Then brightened as they passed very close to it then flared brightly as the decended below it, Then faded back.
    They appeared to be on very close parellel tracks.

    But all that said, It was just really cool to see 2 together :)
    I need to look for more coincedent flares to capture them on the same photo exposure would be really good.

    I use the www.calsky.com sight to get accurate preditions with really good charts.

    All the best and clear skys
    Calchas






Comments

  • #2
    Gaspode
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,051 ✭✭✭Gaspode


    Hmmm, I came here to see if anyone saw anything unusual this morning and this could be what I saw.
    Around 6:50 am or so, facing West/South West I spotted 2 bright satellites that looked very close together moving in the same direction (SW to NE). I thought for a while they might have been the ISS with a shuttle on approach, but dont think the shuttle is up at the moment. As they got higher in the sky though they dimmed and disappeared.
    Anyone know if it could have been the same satellites as the OPs?


  • #3
    lolie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭lolie


    seen the flare at 5:33 this eve, cool. first time lookin out for them. must check them more often


  • #4
    Captain Chaos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭Captain Chaos


    Gaspode wrote: »
    Anyone know if it could have been the same satellites as the OPs?

    Could have been an Iridium satellite as there are around 70 up them up there alone. Could have been caused by other satellites too.

    Everyone just calls them Iridium as they are famous for causing the flashes of sunlight due to their design.


  • #5
    calchas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 79 ✭✭calchas


    I actually called them irridium as they were from Iridium satelites. In general they are flares.:)

    Gaspode:
    To chech if these happend to be from Iridium flares (or from some other satelites) go to www.calsky.com. drill to satelites->Iridium flares. Then (having set your location) set the time a bit before you saw them and the duration long enough to comfortable span past the time. It may turn out that there were 2 flares due at the time and location.

    Or just use it to find flares in the next few evenings.

    Regards
    Calchas


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