Flashes, flashes, flashes
Ed Cannon (ecannon@mail.utexas.edu)
Fri, 19 Jun 1998 04:59:01 -0500
Some exciting observations from Thursday evening (19 June UTC).
First, Iridium 20 (#24871), with two bright-flash episodes, at
around 2:53:43 and around 2:55:43. The latter group was even
more fun because while it was doing those, it and UARS (21701,
91-63B) crossed paths, and the crossing occurred very near zeta
Ophiuchus!
Second, Spot 3 (#22823, 93-61A). WOW!!! This one is a must-
see! Mike McCants timed the bright (easy one-power) flashes at
about every 11.7 seconds. The brightest one was a solid -2.
Thanks to Eric Vondra for the heads-up!
Third, NOAA 7 (#12553, 81-59A). This is the third time I've
seen it exhibit easy one-power flashes. In two of them, it was
going north from a culmination high in east.
Lacrosse 2 Rk (#21148, 91-17B) was interesting in that it was
quite bright as it ascended from the south, but after passing
near Cor Caroli it disappeared, presumably due to an unlucky
combination of tumble and worsening phase angle.
Ed Cannon -- ecannon@mail.utexas.edu -- Austin, Texas, USA