Iridium Flare Consolidation
Ron Lee (ronlee@pcisys.net)
Sun, 14 Sep 1997 16:46:27
The following info summarizes the majority of the Iridium flashes reported
to date (except the exciting 7 satellite flare of the 14 Sep Proton launch
by Craig Cholar). In some cases, duplicate flares of newly launched
objects are not included (laziness on my part). The info has not been
sorted yet...possibly by morning and evening passes. Will also have to
change some reports where the same observer (like Paul Maley) saw the
sequence over a few days...thus showing a ramp-up/down of brightness.
I have changed the format slightly. eliminated the UT offset and included
that with the observer position. Intent is to keep the line length on
one line within the email constraints.
Original reporters are encouraged to correct any mistakes/omissions I made.
Inclusion of missing data is also welcome. I have supplied missing data
where possible.
NO analysis at this time. My best is probably just sequencing the data to
show common flare circumstances, which may not be adequate to predict
future flares.
Ron Lee
Data from left to right:
UT - UT of mid flare
Date - not labeled but obvious (UT date)
Sat Dir- direction of travel, either Quicksat value or North or South
Sat AZ/EL - Azimuth and elevation of mid-flare, measured eastward
or clockwise from due north
Sun AZ/EL - Position of sun at mid flare
Flare Dur - duration of flare in seconds. Obviously subjective
Flare Mag - brightness of flare
Obs - Observer's initials
Sun Phase - sun phase angle
Pass Az/EL - Maximum elevation and azimuth for that pass
NORAD # - Self-explanatory
Sat Sat Sun Flare Sun Phase NORAD #
UT Dir AZ EL AZ EL Dur Mag OBS Pass Az/El
04:19:45 08/23/97 95 094 52 299 -17 8 -4 CC Unk --- -- 24795
03:04:10 08/31/97 S 130 54 292 -12 ? -4 PW Unk 86 63 24796
21:34:xx 08/23/97 S East 321 -19 ? -4 TC Unk 76 34 24837
04:13:45 08/24/97 95 100 51 298 -16 7 -3 CC Unk --- -- 24792
20:27:00 08/21/97 070 028 30 324 -1 >20 -1 BG Unk --- -- xxxxx
20:27:20 08/21/97 070 033 33 324 -13 >20 -1 BG Unk --- -- xxxxx
12:37:-- 08/25/97 ? SSW 25 070 -09 ~8 -2 JR Unk --- -- 24904
11:03:00 08/25/97 N 211 35 ENE -xx 15 -4 PM 41 --- -- 24903
10:58:xx 08/26/97 N 214 34 ENE -xx 15 -5 PM 38 --- -- 24907
11:13:xx 08/24/97 N 24 17 64 -12 ~5 1 RGL Unk 87 42 24903
12:35:xx 08/26/97 N xxx xx 294 -24 10 -3 JR Unk 273 50 24907
19:58:xx 08/26/97 073 042 36 317 -12 5 +3 BJG Unk --- -- 24836
20:07:xx 08/26/97 070 043 41 319 -13 6 -1 BJG Unk --- -- 24841
02:26:25 08/27/97 S 116 50 294 -17 2 -1.5 SJW 31 083 53 24793
10:50:-- 08/28/97 N 220 32 --- --- xx 2.5 PM 32 --- -- 24907
00:51.9 08/27/97 S 104 51 297 -14 xx 0 ESL 046 085 61 24792
01:06.9 08/23/97 S 089 51 300 -15 xx +1 ESL 043 084 52 24794
00:57.9 08/26/97 S 101 61 298 -15 xx +1 ESL 047 086 62 24795
10:53:57 08/29/97 N 015 16 62 -17 15 +2 RGL Unk 089 56 24906
11:00:45 08/27/97 N 024 17 063 -15 10 -4 RGL Unk 088 51 24907
20:24:12 08/31/97 S 059 43 313 -18 >5 -0.5 AS Unk --- -- 24840
03:04:10 08/31/97 S 130 54 292 -12 ? -4 PW Unk 086 63 24796
19:57:17 09/06/97 S 069 49 307 -17 10 -2 AS Unk 79 49 24839
20:22:47 09/05/97 S 077 46 --- --- 10 -5 KJ 050 --- 50 24838
20:16:24 09/06/97 S 077 46 --- --- 8 -1 KJ 049 --- 46 24837
Craig Cholar CC 36.6862, -121.8050, UTC-7
Tristan Cools TC 3.2478E, 51.2277N, 3.75 m UTC+0
Bjoern Gimle BG 59.22371 N, 18.22857 E, 44 m
Jake Rees JR -118.3117, 34.1817, UTC-7
Paul Maley PM 29.5378 N; 95.0868 W; 6 m, UTC-5
Ron Lee RGL 104.4614 W, 38.9478 N, 2073 m, UTC-7
Sue J Worden, SJW, 97.7 W, 30.4 N, 150 m, UTC-5
Alexander Seidel AL 9.4683 E, 53.5932 N, 6m, UTC+2
Patrick Wiggins PW 112.15 W, 37.73 N, 2300 m UTC-7
Kurt Jonckheere KJ 4.2656 E, 51.2344 N, 0 m, UTC+0