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Formation flying

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12 years 2 months ago #95330 by phoenix
Formation flying was created by phoenix
Anybody know what 3 satellites are up there flying in a triangular formation?

I saw three flare in Andromeda on Monday night just after 8pm. They were in a formation close to an equilateral triangle and all three flared at the same time. I have seen reference to older NOSS satellites flying in trips but what else is up there?

Kieran
16" ODK (incoming), Mesu Mount 200, APM TMB 80mm, SXV H16, SXV H9
J16 An Carraig Observatory
ancarraigobservatory.co.uk/

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12 years 2 months ago #95331 by albertw
Replied by albertw on topic Re: Formation flying
NOSS are the only ones I know. I never saw them flare though, I'm assuming we're talking iridium type flare here. Some amateur websites do, or at least did, publish the observed elements for the triplets so you might be able to check if this is what you saw.

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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12 years 2 months ago #95332 by dave_lillis
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: Formation flying
Wasn't there a thread here a long time ago about something like this, there was talk of surveillance satellites....

Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)

Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go. :)
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12 years 2 months ago #95334 by phoenix
Replied by phoenix on topic Re: Formation flying
Thought that myself Dave but couldn't find it. Most of the new NOSS are in twos and older ones are non functional.

Kieran
16" ODK (incoming), Mesu Mount 200, APM TMB 80mm, SXV H16, SXV H9
J16 An Carraig Observatory
ancarraigobservatory.co.uk/

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12 years 2 months ago #95335 by albertw
Replied by albertw on topic Re: Formation flying

phoenix wrote: Thought that myself Dave but couldn't find it. Most of the new NOSS are in twos and older ones are non functional.


Well the whole iridium constellation is non functional as well :)

Archive threads:
www.irishastronomy.org/index.php?option=...5059&Itemid=40#65061
www.irishastronomy.org/index.php?option=...8100&Itemid=40#68105

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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12 years 2 months ago #95342 by phoenix
Replied by phoenix on topic Re: Formation flying
According to the links only 2 sets of NOSS satellites are still in formation: 1986-014 D, E & H and 1990-50 C, D & E.

Heavens Above puts these nowhere near me at the time I saw the trips.

Kieran
16" ODK (incoming), Mesu Mount 200, APM TMB 80mm, SXV H16, SXV H9
J16 An Carraig Observatory
ancarraigobservatory.co.uk/

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