Dear all, Below is an edited copy of a flare prediction from Rob's excellent = Iridflar program. This was my first flare siting attempt. I thought I = would start with the brightest prediction! TLE used: IRIDIUM 31 1 24950U 97051G 97364.08130919 +.00000059 +00000-0 +14156-4 0 01146 2 24950 086.3978 017.5506 0002749 050.7186 309.4250 14.34217514015456 Home position: Latitude: 51.17810 Longitude: -0.13750 Altitude: 80.0 m Time Zone: UTC +0.0 h Range Peak Std Maximum Flare Time Azm El (km) Azm Elev FlrAng Mag Mag Mag Latitude = Longitude -------------------------------------------------------------------------= - 18:23:48.0 037 46 1039.2 259 -20.3 1.98 1.0 -8.1 0.8 50.7834 = -0.1164 18:23:55.4 034 44 1067.2 259 -20.3 0.01 -8.0 -8.0 -8.3 51.1803 = -0.1374 18:24:02.5 032 42 1095.8 259 -20.3 1.81 0.9 -8.0 0.6 51.5609 = -0.1573 When I ran the prediction for New Year's eve it coincided with clear = weather, no moon and evening (rather than morning) flare time. I nagged = some friends to come out in the car for a short drive to the 'maximum' = center point which is in farmland nearby (they were getting ready for a = New Year's party and the only stars they wanted to see were to be beer = induced). =20 We got out of the car and stood in very dark conditions with good = horizontal visibility for about 5 minutes until the predicted time. Sky = was mostly clear with scattered well defined small clouds. About 80 seconds before the predicted pass we saw another satellite = heading NNE and passing through the same position of the sky about mag = 2.5. The Iridium flare was very bright and on time and position. We were = looking at the exact position in the sky - and at the predicted time = there it was; beaming for about 10 seconds. Looked as bright as a = airplane landing light then faded and disappeared. Can't give a more = accurate brightness estimate, but way brighter the Venus. Happy New Year all, DAI