Re:Iridium 65 observed in bright morning twilight
James Husnay Sr. (jhusnay@scsinet.com)
Wed, 02 Dec 1998 20:06:49 -0500
> To Mark Hanning- Lee and listing to SeeSat-L as observation:
> James Husnay Sr. wrote:
> > Now looking forward to my first time ever twilight Iridium scheduled
> 07:12 at -8m and
> > almost at zenith?
Mark thank you for taking notice of my mail. I'm a real novice at this as I
joined the list in June '98.
> Mark wrote:
> Sounds fun! If you get to see that twilight flare, and you post about
> it, it'd be nice to give the sun elevation when you see it (-3 degrees).
> That helps people in different latitudes get an idea of how bright the
> sky is. E.g. at 07:12 local time it's day in California and dim twilight
> in the UK.
>
I did get to see the flare. It was crystal clear and full blown morning
twilight. Iridium 65 was on time at 07:12:59 AM but at my location just
slightly east of flare center at 3.0 km. I looked down at my watch to see it
was 07:13 and thought I blew seeing it, elevation was to be at 74 degrees. I
thought I might have been looking in the wrong direction or something. When
I looked there it was shining around 80 degrees and brighter than any Venus
apparition before sunrise (or after sunset). It probably would have rivaled
a -8m.
At my location:
43.0511N
76.1539W
There's a hill to my east and sunrise crests later than scheduled. Sun was
below horizon. On 12/2 sun was to be at a scheduled 07:17 AM EST for our
locale - 4 minutes after predicted flare. The flare was already at peak when
I looked up. The bright glint lasted another maybe 2 seconds longer before
it became dimmer, then faded . I can see were I made my mistakes (will have
more faith in predicted times). I'm in the market for some sort of battery
operated timing cube for more accuracy. Radio Shack no longer carry's. Do
you have any ideas? It would be appreciated.
BTW: Hopefully with clear sky's (almost impossible to get anymore in this
neck of the woods) am looking forward now to seeing Iridium 45 at sun-up and
predicted -8m for 09:03:33 AM - 1.4km from flare center were it will be
-8.1m. If observed will list.
Go out and enjoy the Universe "It's Yours" JRH