Similar experience I would like to share. During last star party, I just asked the mob of more than 100 amateurs, who were new to predictable satellite field, to keep an eye at sky near Arcturus. I had already listed the visible satellites that night and knew that Iridium is going to flash at this piece of sky. As expected at precise time indicated by Heavens above, Iridium flashed at -7. Great exclamation of 100 + people just like what we hear at Diamond ring. No body from the mob can forget the flash (and forgot me also - respect about me increased hundred fold - credit goes to HA and Orbitron and SeeSat, which I regularly use for Star Parties I conduct. Thanks Suhas Gurjar India ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Reeves" <reeves10@swbell.net> To: "SeeSat" <SeeSat-L@blackadder.lmsal.com> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:31 PM Subject: Re: neighbor sees his 1st flare > Tom, > > An excellent example of how we amateurs are the first line ambassadors for > science and space. It means a lot more to folks when a regular Joe can show > them this stuff instead of a talking head on TV. Thanks for sharing. > > Robert Reeves reeves10@swbell.net > 520 Rittiman Rd. www.robertreeves.com > San Antonio, Texas 78209 210-828-9036 > USA 29.484 98.440 200 meters > > > > I rushed out last evening to watch a -6 Iridium flare and as I was getting > > my bearings, a local college professor came by while walking his dogs. > > We've met before, in front of my place in similar circumstances, but while > I > > was watching for the ISS to fly by. This was a special event because the > > flare was going to be in twilight, what to me is the most beautiful of > > circumstances. > > > > I pointed at Jupiter, between the many trees in our neighborhood and > > explained how the flare would be much brighter that it yet. Then, after we > > made our way to a clearing down the road, just past the street light, we > > waited. Forty eight seconds after my atomic alarm clock began to beep the > > flare brightened rapidly in the still, dark blue sky. My visitor saw it > > first and exclaimed, "There!" Then I caught it too as it brightened > nicely > > and just as quickly faded away. After it was over he was so excited that > he > > reached out to shake hands! > > > > It's always a pleasure to treat someone new to this sport of predicting > and > > watching things as simple as a fleck of white sunlight shining down from > > space. There's something about it that thrills most people in ways that > > cannot be explained but must be experienced first hand. > > > > Wishing clear skies for everyone, > > > > Tom Iowa USA > > + + + > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' > > in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org > > List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' > in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org > List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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