Re: Thoughts on Iridium glints
3432P@VM1.CC.NPS.NAVY.MIL
Thu, 9 Oct 97 10:53:55 PDT
I too had thought about the Iridiums being a new source of light pollution,
but soon realized that aircraft are by far the worst offenders, ruining
many an astrophoto, no doubt. I live right under the Los Angeles to
San Francisco air corridor, and there are always at least 2 planes in
the sky at all times of the day and night; A far worse problem, I suspect,
for astrophotographers than satellites. At least satellite passes can
be predicted, and avoided. Maybe there's money to be made for a prediction
program that ties into the Air Traffic Control System in real-time, warning
you that a 747 bound for Singapore is going to pass .1 deg. below the
Andromeda Galaxy at 04:32:47 UT. :-)
Craig Cholar 3432P@VM1.CC.NPS.NAVY.MIL
Marina, California
36 41 10.3N, 121 48 17.9W (36.6862, -121.8050) UTC -7