Robert Sheaffer answered Ron (Lee?): > >>> I still do not understand why an event that is probably tied to >>> specific viewer-satellite-sun orientation should occur at the same >>> time for viewers about 16 degrees apart in longitude. I am at 104.56 >>> degrees west, latitude 38.9478, 2073 meters, (UT-6). >>> >>> If someone can educate me on why this happens, please do so. >> >Me, too. I'm as puzzled as Ron is! > >Somebody has gotta figure out the geometry of this thing. > I can't answer the questions about visibility in other places (generally the distribution of a flash is an intersection of a cone with Earth's 'sphere'), but to me it is almost obvious that, in a star-fixed coordinate system : The Sun-satellite line changes less than 1 degree/day. The axis of a spinning satellite probably changes less than a degree/day. If you can observe the satellite in the same celestial surroundings as another flash observer, you have the same geometry. (unless the satellite is Earth/gravity stabilized) ------------------------------------------------------------ -- b_gimle@algonet.se +46-8-7428086 (home) -- -- 59.22371 N, 18.22857 E AND member of : -- -- http://www.algonet.se/~b_gimle seesat-l / seesat-d -- -- bjorn@tt-tech.se +46-8-59095789 (office)-- ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us at Eurosom 2, the Satellite Observers Meeting: Oct.19/20 ! Ghent, Belgium http://www.rzg.mpg.de/~bdp/eurosom.html ---