JERS 1 Triple Flare

finn@main.jetnet.ab.ca
Mon, 26 Jul 1999 00:03:44 -0600 (MDT)

Not to out do the NOAA 11 double flares reported earlier, but i had a triple
flare by JERS 1. As i was waiting for Iridium 69 ? #25319 98026A to flare to
-2, i observed the first flare by JERS 1 #21867 92007A at 05:07:49 26 Jul
UTC +/- 5 sec. Az 70 deg El 50 deg at a mag of 1. It faded after that and
then the second flare, mag 3, occured a few seconds later but i didn't get
an exact time as i started looking for IR 69 ? to see if it would flare but
nothing was seen. While continuing to look for it, i noticed a -2 mag flare
at Az 010 deg El 30 deg at 05:09:33 26 Jul UTC +/- 2 sec. Figuring it was an
unknown, i checked to see if i could ID it and found that JERS 1 matched the
track. The previous double flares i've had with JERS 1 i never followed it
to see if there would be a 3rd one, i guess i'll have to check it out next
time. 

Later, i just happened to be looking in the right direction when a meteor
flew into the cup of the Big Dipper, a nice, but brief display.

Jari
54.25N
110.11W
556m