Earlier tonight (August 17 UTC) at about 2:36:27-28 ETS 7 (25064, 97-074B) did one of the brightest flashes that I have ever seen. This was at about RA 20:38-39, Dec +17.0 (2000). I don't know if I've seen an Iridium flare as bright. The range was about 405 miles (650 km); Quicksat phase angle was 34 (where zero would be full phase and 180 new, i.e., backlit). I was at the Ney Museum site (30.307N, 97.727W, 150m). Most of the pass was no big deal, but it began brightening after crossing most of the sky. I was wondering if it could have made -10 magnitude. It was awesome. I saw Molniya 3-38 (20646, 90-052A) flashing for the second time recently, to about +6.0 more or less. This was about 4:20-25, when it was at RA 18:34 to 44, Dec 19 to 12 (i.e., southbound). Good old Superbird A has gone on to the west. I guess it will be back around the beginning of next year. Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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