Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

iridium flare

Options
  • 13-01-2009 10:21pm
    #1
    scully74
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 202 ✭✭


    what is a iridium flare?:)


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    Redshift
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,486 ✭✭✭Redshift


    The Iridium Satellite Constellation

    A relatively small communications satellite has been providing spectacular visible reflective flares/glints to observers on the ground (*refer to respectfully submitted definition for flares/glints).
    With only a normal brightness of +6 magnitude (binoculars are useful to spot it), occasionally some of the Iridium satellites provide reflective flares/glints of magnitude (-)8. For comparison, Venus can be as bright as magnitude (-)4.9, thus reflections can be up to 30 times brighter than Venus. The flares/glints can last anywhere from 5 to 20 seconds before the satellite once again becomes almost invisible to the naked eye. Some flares have been observed during the daylight hours which is very unusual for reflective glares from satellites. Knowing where to look to observe these flares during the daylight hours is essential.

    More


Advertisement