Re: Iridium 5 out of control?

Robert Smathers (roberts@nmia.com)
Tue, 5 May 1998 22:58:31 -0600 (MDT)

Chris Peat wrote:
> 
> I read a couple of messages recently about Iridium 5 not showing up with a
> flare when expected. Here is an extract from a message I received from Theo

Based on the following from Iridflar 1.60 (as much as I could cut and
paste, only "day" column left out):

  Local    Local     Iridium          Sun      Flare      Maximum Flare  Ir
  Date     Time    Azm El Rnge N I  Azm Elv  Ang Mg MMA  Latit.  Longit.  #
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5291 086 21:20:04  089 49  980 D L  304 -15  2.3  0  R   35.1065-105.957  5
5291 086 21:21:31  090 48  898 D L  305 -15  3.7  2  R   35.1035-105.707 61
5291 086 21:24:48  089 56  921 D L  305 -16  3.1  1  R   35.1440-107.202 34

I saw Iridium 5 flare (and iridium 61 and 34 also).  3 flare predictions,
3 flares seen (but the Iridium 5 flare seemed to be more of a -3 or -4 mag
than a 0; very obvious, bright flare as it moved near Arcturus in the sky).

my TLE for Iridium 5 used in Iridflar:

IRIDIUM 5
1 24795U 97020D   98120.12218993 +.00000061 +00000-0 +13981-4 0 02053
2 24795 086.4143 358.5735 0003700 039.4002 320.7477 14.36938289051648


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de fcc sgn, Robert Smathers  (roberts@nmia.com)   Albuquerque, NM USA
Robert's Satellite TV/Baseball page:   http://www.nmia.com/~roberts/
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