This morning, as I was leaving for work, I saw a bright "flashing/ flaring" object moving slowly from above Ursa Major's handle to Corona Borealis. It "flared" several times to magnitude +2 or brighter (i.e. at least as bright as eta UMa and alpha CrB), such events being "several seconds" apart. (In between the brightenings, it was invisible to my un-dark-adapted naked eyes in a very hazy sky.) Rough estimates of apparent positions (dates/times are UTC 2005 June 06): UTC Alt Azim Place 07:34.6 40 311 Above eta UMa (Alkaid) 07:35.6 41 275 Just above alpha CrB (Alphecca) The only satellite I could find which matches the rough positions and direction of motion was 25977 = 94-064A = Helios 1 B. I saw this object (25977) one other pass (2005 Jun 01/07:18 UTC) when it was considerably higher in the W - SW sky and then it was between 4 and 5th magnitude with no hint of "flashing". Has anyone noticed this Helios flashing/flaring in the past? Or might anyone suggest a different identification? Thanks. Clear and dark skies! Ed Light Lakewood, NJ, USA 8840, N 40.1075, W 074.2312, +24 m (80 ft) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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