As a followup to my observation of the flash, I am providing more information. Observing Location - 30 28 39n 95 33 05w Observation Time - December 31, 2005 17:57cst = 23:57UT Moon's Position - 19h 36m 26s -26d 58m 26s (Topocentric) (Refraction on) Sorry for the delay. Kenneth Drake Kenneth Drake wrote: > While observing a 20 hour old thin crescent moon, I saw a bright, short, > point flash which appeared to last between 1/10 and 1/2 second. It > appeared to be 2-3 magnitudes brighter than the brightest portion of the > visible arc of the Moon. I was not prepared for this! I did have the > sense to mark the time - 23:57:45UT. Thinking back now, it could have > been 23:59:45 - I may have misread the digital watch. The Moon was less > that 2 degree up and was getting weak in the thickening haze. I made a > note of the location of the flash relative to the arc and later > determine the flash was in Mare Tranquillitatis most likely near the > crater Ross or Plinius. This is a broad estimate since I could not see > any lunar features. I lost sight of the arc as it faded away in the muck > at 00:02UT still 1.3 degrees up. > > The Moons position at this time was R.A. 19h 36m Dec. -26d 58m. > > Does anyone know if any satellite could have been nearby that may have > caused a bright flash? There appeared to be no motion in the flash which > was very short lived. > > Thanks in advance, > Kenneth Drake > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.11/219 - Release Date: 1/2/06 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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