Re: Iridium with multiple flashes. Is that possible

From: satrack@libero.it
Date: Sun Jun 24 2012 - 12:18:38 UTC

  • Next message: Alexander Repnoy: "very bright flashes from H2A debris"

    Flares from two antennas occur under not ideal conditions though. 
    Here a typical case:
    
    Observer location: 44.09673 N, 10.64507 E
    
    IRIDIUM 97+
    
    Flare from the Front Antenna:
    
    07/07/2012 02:55:47 UTC - Flare Mag. -6.2
    Satellite Elevation: 21.8 deg.
    Sun Elevation: -7.5 deg.
    
    Flare from the Right Antenna:
    
    07/07/2012 03:00:20 UTC - Flare Mag. -4.8
    Satellite Elevation: 9.3 deg.
    Sun Elevation: -6.8 deg.
    
    Visual representation (copy the whole link):
    
    http://www.satflare.com/track.php?q=URL&Lat=44.09673382396232&Lon=10.
    645071394837373&Alt=100&jd=2456115.6220922223&MapZoom=3&ChartZoom=1&LatMap=44.
    09673382396232&LonMap=10.
    645071394837373&l0=4952494449554d203937205b2b5d&l1=31203237343530552030323033314120202031323137352e3537383537313736202d2e3030303030303135202030303030302d30202d31323536352d3420302020333136302020&l2=32203237343530202038362e33393237203335392e343538342030303035313032202036382e38373437203239312e323939392031342e3334323134303632353239343231202000
    
    Double flares occur where the flare ground tracks (blue lines) cross each 
    other.
    
    Regards,
    Simone
    
    
    
    >----Messaggio originale----
    >Da: bjorn.gimle@gmail.com
    >Data: 23-giu-2012 19.50
    >A: "Patrice Scattolin"<scattol@videotron.ca>
    >Cc: <seesat-l@satobs.org>
    >Ogg: Re: Iridium with multiple flashes. Is that possible
    >
    >It is possible to have flares from two antennas (far apart) but also
    >from the solar panels, and those can occur close to an antenna flare.
    >But the panels are controlled depending on Sun's "declination" above
    >the orbit plane, and at this time of year I don't find any for your
    >location (Rob Matson's IridFlar). Probably the panels are pointed
    >nearly 90 degrees from the orbit plane, close to the Sun near Marathon
    >period.
    >
    >And Iridiums move S-N or N-S essentially !
    >
    >/Björn
    >
    >2012/6/23 Patrice Scattolin <scattol@videotron.ca>:
    >> About 2 weeks ago I've seen what I believed to be an Iridium flash but
    >> after it started dimming it brightned up again and then redimmed and
    >> rebrightend to finally extinguish. Has anyone else observed this? Was
    >> what I saw something other than an Iridium? I unfortunately don't have
    >> the exact date and time so the actual bird can't be confirmed. Beside
    >> another type of satellite, the only other thing I can think of is an
    >> Iridium doing an attitude change. Anyone knows. I typically don't record
    >> my observations but it's about as follows: (it crossed from West to
    >> East, june 16th at about 11:30pm, In Quebec at 45.602434,-72.670938
    >> according to Google.)
    >> _______________________________________________
    >> Seesat-l mailing list
    >> http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
    >
    >
    >
    >-- 
    >----------------------------------------
    >Björn Gimle, COSPAR 5919
    >59.2576 N, 18.6172 E, 23 m
    >Phone: +46 (0)8 571 43 312
    >Mobile: +46 (0) 704 385 486
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    >
    
    
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