Inspired by Kevin's email I discovered that there were possible opportunities to observe Icesat at this location. Possible success on the first attempt!- I saw (unassisted) one single flash to around mag -1 just south of West at an estimated 25 to 30 degrees altitude at 08:58 UTC today October 6 (not accurate to the second.) This has a reasonable correspondence to the predicted pass of Icesat which according to Heavens Above entered shadow at 08:57:20 UTC in the West at 58 degrees altitude - an ascending pass from the South. Although there is an aircraft route in this direction there was no sign of regular frequent flashes which would suggest an aircraft. As we have regular similar favorable passes I will be checking for a recurrence of this observation which would help to confirm whether the flare was from Icesat. I would be interested in more expert opinions on this possibility. As an aside Iridium flares make a great party item at a camp bonfire- especially when the flare is close to Mars! (Iridium 52 observed to mag -3 at 40.9000°S, 175.0830°E at 07:52 UTC on 4 October by a group of around 20- with myself and one other being the only observers who had previously seen flares (or any other manmade satellites) - observation was in a mostly clear sky after a serious storm the previous night. The location is almost completely free of interference from manmade lighting and may become a regular observing site now! . I deliberately kept quiet about the flare until 5 minutes before for maximum effect! Unfortunately observation of an earlier daytime flare was out of the question owing to the aforementioned storm.) Robert Holdsworth Wainuiomata New Zealand 41.2610°S, 174.9470°E UTC plus 13 (New Zealand Daylight Time) from 5 October inclusive. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Fetter" <kfetter@yahoo.com> To: <SeeSat-L@satobs.org> Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 2:26 PM Subject: re:icesat > Try this link instead > > http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/earth/pictures/2003/0920icesatfirst/Sept30.Bonneville.HiRes.jpg > > > > __________________________________ > ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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