Lighthouse Satellite

Our Russian cousins have launched the Mayak or "Lighthouse" satellite. It is only in orbit for a month and has a reflector in the form of a 3m tall pyramid. As a result, it may make some v bright passes. Local predictions for passes can be found on Heavens-Above.

newatlas.com/mayak-satellite-launched/50525/

From Heavens Above site:

Update: We have had several reports that Mayak has not been seen when expected, although the project team has stated that the reflector has been deployed. This could mean we have the wrong object. Space-Track are still calling the object we think is Mayak simply "Object F", so they are not sure either. There are some reported sightings from Russia, however. We will keep you updated as soon as we have more news.

According to HA, an observer in Germany has seen it and said it was 'very bright'.

Interesting. I wonder what 'v bright' means. Venus? Bright Iridium level -7/8?

Went out at 1.10am for a scheduled pass, and although I did see both a flash of lightning and a meteor within 5 minutes, there was no sign of a bright Russian satellite.

Latest from H-A. This object is proving tricky to spot. Maybe the magnitude predictions for it were "optimistic".

Update 3: We have had several more conflicting observation reports. Some people have reported a complete "no show", but several others have reported seeing Mayak in agreement with our predictions, although not as bright as expected and flashing, as would be expected for a rotating object with large, flat surfaces. Space-Track have still not given the object a name. It could be that the people who did not see it were unlucky with the attitude and Sun-satellite geometry during the pass.