I finally managed to see a flare from the central ASCAT antenna of Metop (2006-044A ). I followed Metop for 6 minutes across the Western sky and for most of the time it remained very dim (which is quite typical for that satellite). Then just below Cassiopeia it went up to almost mag 0 (while at an elevation of only 13°). It was a rather flat flare. This and the timing of the maximum at 20:36:45 UTC, 19-APR-07 is exactly in line with the specified orientation of the central ASCAT antenna (Yaw -90 deg, Pitch -56.5 deg) and my distance from the central line of that flare. I have seen some flares from the -45 deg ASCAT antenna before and there seems to be not just a central flare but also a secondary flare from that but I need more observations to clarify that. And still with European weather satellites: Today was the final maneuver in the retirement of Meteosat 5 (1991-015B). (Some final venting I was told.) Gerhard HOLTKAMP Darmstadt, Germany 49.8822 N, 8.6558 E ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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