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Flashing Sat.

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  • 24-06-2014 12:14am
    #1
    RockBadger
    Registered Users Posts: 104 ✭✭


    Hello all. Just wondering if anyone knows what is the flashing satellite that passes overhead every night approx. 23:53, roughly North to South above Arcturus and below Vega. It flashes about every second (must be rotating pretty hard!) I've been observing this every night now for over a week. Cheers.


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    #2
    Zubeneschamali
    Registered Users Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    Cosmos 1455 fits the bill, launched 1983.


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    #3
    animaal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 815 ✭✭✭animaal


    Zubeneschamali wrote: »
    Cosmos 1455 fits the bill, launched 1983.

    If it's flashing, it's more likely an airplane. And if it's at the same time every night, it's more likely to be a plane flying to a schedule. The orbits of satellites Satellites generally don't allow them to pass the same place at the same time every day.

    Either that, or possibly the passing of this flying object happens to coincide with beer time every night? :)


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    #4
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    Having said that i have seen a flashing satellite. The flash had a kind of sine wave to it if you get me. The flashing light on a plane is on-off in more of a digital fashion.
    That to me distinguishes a satellite from a plane.


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    #5
    Zubeneschamali
    Registered Users Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    shedweller wrote: »
    Having said that i have seen a flashing satellite. The flash had a kind of sine wave to it if you get me. The flashing light on a plane is on-off in more of a digital fashion.
    That to me distinguishes a satellite from a plane.

    Flashing satellites tend to be old stuff like rocket stages tumbling.

    But anyone can tell a satellite track from a plane, right?


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    #6
    RockBadger
    Registered Users Posts: 104 ✭✭RockBadger


    Yes Zubeneschamali, anyone can tell a sat. track from that of a plane and as shedweller notes also its flash traits. Cosmos 1455 seems to be the only candidate but you're right-I'm veering toward space junk at the mo due to the period of rotation, as I've said earlier about a flash a sec. or 1.5 sec. Have a look up tonight if the sky is clear. Cheers.


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    #7
    Zubeneschamali
    Registered Users Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    animaal wrote: »
    The orbits of satellites Satellites generally don't allow them to pass the same place at the same time every day.

    Cosmos 1455 passes again tonight starting 23:45.

    Tomorrow, 23:40. 26th, 23:30.

    Each time, pretty much due North to South as RockBadger describes.


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    #8
    2 stroke
    Registered Users Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭2 stroke


    Ok I've been educated and realise that I've seen flashing satelites too. I just dismissed them as some type of plane.


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    #9
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    Now that i have something interesting to watch, the sky has clouded over!
    Yay for Irish astronomy!!


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