Re: Online 1989 report of "repeating point flash" phenomenon

Robert Reeves (rreeves@connecti.com)
Wed, 21 Jul 1999 06:15:00 -0500

 Subject: Online 1989 report of "repeating point flash" phenomenon
 
 
 > I stumbled across an article entitled "Strange Light Phenomena 
 > During Perseid Meteor Showers" written by a young meteor observer 
 > and published in the newsletter of the Grand Rapids (Michigan)
> Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA) in the winter of 1988-89:
> 
 
 > 
 > The second type of phenomenon reported was "repeating point flash" 
 > and pretty much perfectly describes flashing Molniya-type objects,
 
 
 This phenomenon was also observed back in the early 1980's and was
 initially misidentified as a new class of flare star.  One Canadian
 observer became quite passionate about it and the object seen came
 to be known either as the "Aries Flasher" or the "Perseus Flasher".
 After several years, Paul Maley from JSC finally put the matter to
 rest by conclusively identifying the flasher as a Molniya.  The mater
 came to a crux at either the 1986 or 87 (I forget which) Texas Star
 Party where the Canadian fellow (I also forget his name) and Paul
 Maley both presented papers in support of their respective theories
 as to that the flasher really was.  Paul could not attend the meeting,
 but his paper was read by someone else, and it effectively drove
 the final nails in the coffin of the "Perseus Flasher" and essentially
 left the Canadian in a state of scientific embarasment.
 
 Robert Reeves            http://www.connecti.com/~rreeves
 520 Rittiman Rd.         rreeves@connecti.com
 San Antonio, TX          210-828-9036       
 78209   U.S.A.            29.484N  98.440W  200 meters