Before there were Iridiums.....

Shari & Ian Porter (sharian@alphalink.com.au)
Fri, 13 Feb 1998 23:15:06 +0000

There were the NOAA's ....
I was tracking NOAA 11 tonight in my 8 Inch Dob and as I watched it I
realised it was in the right geometry to produce a bright flare ( which
I have seen before from this sat and NOAA 7). Sure enough it got
brighter and brighter and then ZAPP, I had to pull my eye away from the
eyepiece (psychological reaction only of course). It flared twice, about
6 seconds apart, up to about -4 the first time and -2 the second.
I am now sorely tempted to watch an good Iridium flare in the scope and
see how long it takes to get my dark adaptation back ! :-) 

Ian
-- 
Shari & Ian Porter
Syberspace Internet Services http://www.syberspace.com.au
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