Still in shock after observing the mag -8 irdium flare this morning in Auriga. Flare centre almost directly overhead. 43 times brighter than Venus! Best view ever!
Under usual hazy skies in SG and at lower altitude, only the brightest part of the flaring can be seen for a second or two. This time round, sky was clear enough to see the dim iridium approach for a couple of seconds, suddenly flare up to mag -8 for about 3 seconds, them dim down but still visible for another 4 or 5 seconds. And framed nicely with stars around it near Capella. What a gorgeous commercial break while hunting for ISON!
Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Bright Iridium flare (mag -2) visible from Singapore tmr morn 18 Oct @ 05:44:39am. Face NE. Look up 45° at Capella in Auriga.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Yupe. But brightness only about -2 because the flare centre is 23km away. Unlike the previous one which was directly over Singapore. There was a very bright one yesterday (-7.3) and 3km off flare centre. But unfortunately sky was cloudy. Was prepared to bring the library talk audience out to take a look if the sky was clear enough.bornfree wrote:next one on the 24 Oct 5 am plus?
The next best iridium flare to look out for is on Monday Nov 4 at 06:13:45. At least -6 right above Singapore. And more importantly, very close to Castor! Will be spectacular to look at through telescope framing both of them in same FOV!
Unfortunately due to changes in Deepavali date, that Monday is no longer a public holiday.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Weather permitting, China's Tiangong1 visible from Singapore tmr morning 26 Oct. 5:53am - 5:57am. Flyby near bright stars.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Hubble Space Telescope flyby very close to the Moon at 05:38:30. Should be visible thru binos & telescopes if the sky is clear enough.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Weather permitting, crazy bright (mag -8 !!) & easy to find iridium flare visible from Singapore tonight 16 Feb.
Time: 20:13:19. Appearing near Jupiter.
Credit: Heavens Above
Time: 20:13:19. Appearing near Jupiter.
Credit: Heavens Above
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Weather permitting, catch bright iridium flare tomorrow evening. 20 March 2014 (Thurs) at about 19:30:27.
Face Northeast. Near Jupiter.
Credit: Heavens Above.
From Toa Payoh Central, it's about mag -6. If you stay closer to the red vertical, maybe even mag -8!
Face Northeast. Near Jupiter.
Credit: Heavens Above.
From Toa Payoh Central, it's about mag -6. If you stay closer to the red vertical, maybe even mag -8!
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Super bright Iridium Flare visible from Singapore if sky's clear! Tmr morning, 7 Apr at 05:56:33am. Near star cluster NGC6231! Imagine observing both in same FOV through a wide-view binocular.
Credit: Heavens Above
Credit: Heavens Above
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
Re: Observing Satellites & Iridium Flares
Weather permitting, DOUBLE iridium flare visible from #Singapore at same spot separated by 24 seconds.
6 May, 20:30:19 and 20:30:43. Altitude 48° Azimuth 130°.
Mag -3.7 and -8.3 (!) from Toa Payoh Central.
Source: Heavens-above
6 May, 20:30:19 and 20:30:43. Altitude 48° Azimuth 130°.
Mag -3.7 and -8.3 (!) from Toa Payoh Central.
Source: Heavens-above
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.