Iridium launch will be followed by monster flare

3432P@VM1.CC.NPS.NAVY.MIL
Sat, 8 Nov 97 07:49:33 PST

For those heading to Vandenberg for the Iridium Delta launch tonight (11/8),
Iridium 20 #24872 will be producing a monster flare centered on Lon -120.369
(just a few miles east of Lompoc).   The flare occurs about 6 minutes
after the launch.  Here are more details, courtesy of Rob Matsons'
IRIDFLAR program:

   Time    Azm El   RA   Decl  Range SunEl FlrAng Mag FlareLat FlareLong
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
17:39:50.0 189 45 20h24  -9.8 1047.3  -7.8  5.76  2.5  36.2656 -120.4494
17:40:14.7 188 38 20h27 -17.0 1168.9  -7.9  0.26 -5.2  34.7845 -120.3690
17:40:45.0 186 31 20h29 -24.0 1333.7  -8.0  5.40  2.9  32.9637 -120.2779

I don't know if the lighting conditions will cooperate, but if someone
could combine a time exposure of the launch, the flare, and the sunlit
exhaust remnants, wouldn't that make a SPECTACULAR photo to send to Sky
and Telescope!

Craig