Obs + Unk Flash

finn@main.jetnet.ab.ca
Tue, 20 Apr 1999 23:59:57 -0600 (MDT)

Here are the unusual observations i had on 20 Apr (21 Apr UTC):

All times are UTC and +/- 2 seconds

I saw only one flash by Iridium 24 #25105 but it was approx -8, quite bright
but brief. I didn't get an exact timing but it was at Az 265 degrees Elev 46
degrees between 04:10:00 and 04:12:00. No other flashes were seen.

Cosmos 808 r #08755 was predicted to come by at 04:32:55 at a mag of 1.9. I
did not spot it so i started to look for Lacrosse 3 r #25018 which was to
arrive at 04:34:02. As i was tracking Lac 3 r, only a mag of 3.6 compared to
it's 1.8 predicted, Cosmos 808 r crossed right in front of it at 04:34:24
Az 005 degrees Elev 75 degrees. Cosmos 808 r was at mag 2 and moving quite
fast. 

As i was checking the path Cosmos 808 r took for my notes, i noticed a -2
flash at 04:39:09 at Az 010 degrees Elev 80 degrees. I have so far been
unable to ID this unknown flash. No other flashes were seen so it's track in
not known but it's location and timing is accurate.

Then as i was watching Aureole 3 r #12849 come into view, i noticed another
object in the same part of the sky but heading NW. I was able to ID the
other one as Spot 1 #16613. The time was 04:48:53.

As a bonus while watching ADEOS #24277, i noticed a bright flash to the
South at 04:55:02 and saw the object at 1x, mag 3.6 est and it continued to
produce negative flashes all the while being visible. I didn't get any
timings but from it's N - S track i knew it had to be an Iridium and sure
enough it was Iridium 27 #24947. Once it began it's North bound track, no
more negative flashes were observed.

Except for a brief mag 2 flare by Spot 4 r #25261 at 04:45:39, the rest of
the objects i had listed were on time, on track and didn't do anything
noteworthy. But a good hour of sat watching was had.
 
Jari
54.25N
110.11W
556m