Kurt, indeed they help! From several observations I am fairly confident that I know the axis position, but I have one that doesn't fit. Assuming this could be a different reflecting surface, I took a chance to observe at my predicted flash time 21:15 UTC (from Stockholm), and found it immediately. It stayed brighter than +2 for about 10 minutes. Bram's observation helps define the extent and/or direction of the flash track, but I would be grateful for one clarification : is 21:10 the first flash, or the centre of a 6.5 minute sequence (or perhaps the last flash observed) ? Extrapolating my obs, counting from my flash 21:16:56 UT, the 13 flashes might have occurred 21:10:17 to 21:16:56 (!), or 21:06:58 to 21:13:37, or 21:03:38 to 21:10:17 (unless there was a "phase-shift" = switch-over to another reflecting surface in the meantime). From a few selected West-Vlaanderen locations at www.heavens-above.com, the location could be close to 51.0N, 3.0E. The positions (2000.0) corresponding to Bram's obs for the suggested times are then: 21:03:38 18:17.5 +17.5 21:06:58 19:38.5 +28 21:10:17 20:50 +33 21:13:37 21:46 +35 21:16:56 22:28.5 +35 My obs in PPAS format: Björn Gimle, BJG, Site #5918 Lat = 59.2985, Long = 18.1045 , Alt = 33 m 96- 10 A 03-08-24 21:33:00.47BJG1030.5 0.2 31 33.237 fF-- mag -1 ssm 96- 10 A 03-08-24 22:24:59.47BJG 398.0 0.2 12 33.177 FF mag 4 ----- Original Message ----- > > Bram Gekiere, while observing Mars, saw 13 flashes, half a minute apart. > First flashes were as bright as Vega, last were less bright > This occured around Sunday, 24 Aug 2003, 21:10 U.T. > He was observing in the south part of West-Flanders (Belgium) > He says the satellite just moved about 10 degrees during these 13 flashes. > > maybe this observation helps to predict when these bright flashes occur > ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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