Multiple close encounter Iridium passes this week

Just been doing my usual check-up on Heavens Above ( www.heavens-above.com ) for what's coming in the week ahead. I have found something, I guess, unique in the next few days. It seems there are a couple of Iridium Flares appearing almost in pairs, which really doesn't happen all too often at all:



This is for an observer based in Tullamore. What about the rest of you? From your own location, are there even closer 'iridium conjunctions' at all? See the dates here for

Seanie.

Here they are for Waterford Seanie!!!

Search Period Start: 15:25, Tuesday, 13 March, 2007
Search Period End: 16:25, Tuesday, 20 March, 2007
Observer's Location: Waterford ( 52.2580°N, 7.1120°W)
Local Time: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 0:00)


Date Local Time

13 Mar 19:03:58 -6 53° 6° (N ) 5.7 km (E) -8 Iridium 8
14 Mar 18:57:51 -1 55° 7° (N ) 25.5 km (E) -8 Iridium 61
15 Mar 06:37:57 -5 15° 72° (ENE) 13.8 km (E) -5 Iridium 13
16 Mar 04:30:32 -3 49° 229° (SW ) 16.0 km (W) -9 Iridium 96
16 Mar 04:34:03 -5 48° 228° (SW ) 8.8 km (W) -8 Iridium 59
16 Mar 06:10:38 -0 49° 170° (S ) 33.7 km (W) -8 Iridium 4
16 Mar 06:13:12 -1 11° 67° (ENE) 111.1 km (E) -5 Iridium 83
17 Mar 04:27:47 -4 49° 229° (SW ) 14.6 km (E) -8 Iridium 28
17 Mar 06:04:33 -8 50° 169° (S ) 2.0 km (W) -8 Iridium 19
17 Mar 06:07:04 -1 10° 66° (ENE) 138.0 km (W) -5 Iridium 56
17 Mar 21:53:13 -4 12° 38° (NE ) 25.3 km (W) -6 Iridium 64
18 Mar 04:21:49 -1 50° 231° (SW ) 35.6 km (E) -8 Iridium 30
18 Mar 05:58:46 -1 50° 168° (SSE) 25.7 km (E) -8 Iridium 36
18 Mar 20:49:02 -0 19° 3° (N ) 44.9 km (E) -6 Iridium 84
18 Mar 21:47:14 -0 12° 39° (NE ) 88.8 km (E) -6 Iridium 67
18 Mar 21:56:47 -1 14° 42° (NE ) 64.2 km (W) -6 Iridium 68
19 Mar 20:42:40 -0 21° 3° (N ) 37.5 km (E) -7 Iridium 12

There's a couple of really bright ones tomorrow morning from Nenagh:

Date Time Mag Alt Az Distance Satellite
14 Mar 04:43:30 -6 50° 223° (SW ) 5.7 km (W) -9 Iridium 94
14 Mar 04:46:05 -8 49° 223° (SW ) 0.3 km (E) -8 Iridium 31


Got very excited cause I thought it was for Dublin but I'd forgetten to switch my observing site after the weekend. Damn!

This is from the list for me in 'sarf' London. So I get the 4/83 pair a day later, and a different pair on the 16th. Maybe you get those some other time ...

16 Mar 04:03:43 -3 49° 228° (SW ) 16.9 km (W) -9 Iridium 90
16 Mar 04:06:56 -1 47° 229° (SW ) 33.3 km (W) -8 Iridium 33

17 Mar 04:00:47 -8 48° 229° (SW ) 4.2 km (E) -8 Iridium 59

17 Mar 05:37:22 -3 50° 170° (S ) 14.1 km (W) -8 Iridium 4
17 Mar 05:39:58 -0 10° 67° (ENE) 181.7 km (W) -5 Iridium 83



I've also never seen a -9 flare before, how rare are those ?

I've also never seen a -9 flare before, how rare are those ?

Pretty bloody rare mate!

Hi Seanie
Displaying close matches of four Iridium flare events for my location. The brightest Iridium flare event for me will occur at 04:30 on the 16th March at -9 magnitude.
I am planning to record in AVI format (weather permitting); Iridium flare events using a new automated meteor camera to test CCD video using 2.6mm f1.0 lens and video capture software at 25 fps (720x576 resolution).
Limiting magnitude is approximately ‘0 / +0.5’ for this system in real time viewing which probably means most Iridium flare events from my location could in theory be recorded automatically when conditions are satisfactory. Keep you posted!

Video sample with similar system: sonotaco.com/sample/etc/m20030827_192520.wmv

Search Period Start: 15:45, Wednesday, 14 March, 2007
Search Period End: 16:45, Wednesday, 21 March, 2007
Observer's Location: Meath ( 53.5500°N, 6.8000°W)
Local Time: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 0:00)

15-Mar 06:28:12 0 14° 69° (ENE) 97.8 km (E) -5 Iridium 12
15-Mar 06:37:32 -3 16° 71° (ENE) 39.8 km (W) -5 Iridium 13
16-Mar 04:30:10 0 49° 231° (SW ) 38.2 km (W) -9 Iridium 96
16-Mar 04:33:40 -1 48° 230° (SW ) 30.9 km (W) -8 Iridium 59
17-Mar 05:57:19 -5 10° 63° (ENE) 43.9 km (W) -5 Iridium 50
17-Mar 06:04:11 0 50° 172° (S ) 31.0 km (W) -8 Iridium 19
18-Mar 21:46:55 0 13° 37° (NE ) 90.0 km (E) -6 Iridium 67
18-Mar 21:56:27 -2 16° 40° (NE ) 59.6 km (W) -6 Iridium 68


Clear skies
Mike