Iridium Flares

[danielsun]

Just down loaded this app "Iridium Flares" which tells you the time, intensity, direction, name and more.:thumbsup: reviews sound good and say it's accurate, now I just have to wait for a clear night :rolleyes: to test it out.


Cheers Daniel.

[RB]

I'll have to check it out, thanks for the heads-up Daniel !

[JethroB76]

Is there one that gives predictions for all types of passes (rather than just iridium flares - the ISS etc) ala heavens above?
It looks like gosatwatch may get there eventually but that doesn't have an ipad version yet I don't think.

[asterisk]

Satellite Tracker (ProSat) covers a multitude of satellites and is suitable for iPad as is GoSatWatch

[RB]

Last night, as I was searching for the "Iridium Flares" app, I found a free one similar to it.

It's called "Sputnik!"

I installed it and it looks pretty good.
Will try it out tonight if the weather's good, there's supposed to be a flare at around 22:42 at 84% brightness in my area.

Anyway here's the link to the free version if anyone wants to try it out.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sputnik/id393001070?mt=8

:)

[danielsun]

Nice find RB,;) just installed it, looks pretty good and it's free!!:thumbsup:

Cheers Daniel.

[gb_astro]

Sputnik: pretty well spot on with Heavens Above.
Thanks Andrew.

gb.

[danielsun]

Probably old news for some but a handy update for "Iridium Flares" App now has an alarm function to remind you and an arrow compass that points in the direction of where to look. :thumbsup:

Cheers Daniel.

[astroron]

Andrew I don't think it is possible to see an Iridium flair at that time :question:, the sun is is too far on the other side of the world and the satalites are to low :shrug:
I await to see if I am Wrong:thumbsup:
Cheers

[RB]

Yes I think you're right Ron and it had crossed my mind too.
I just haven't had the chance to use the app yet to see if it's acurate.

I'll let you know if I have success.

:)

[koputai]

I've noticed that Sputnik! misses quite a few flares that heavens-above shows.

For example, running both right now, heavens-above shows 9 visible flares over the next 7 days, whereas Sputnik! only shows 4.

Cheers,
Jason.

[gb_astro]

I'm in Syney too.
Sputnik is showing two extra passes over the next four days compared to HA.
However Sputnik does not show any more after 4:28 Feb 1.
Three of the ones HA show are very near sunrise.
Maybe this is too close for Sputnik.
Interesting to see if it changes tomorrow.

[koputai]

I'm in Canberra at the mo, and just caught the 21:28:54 flare which both HA and Sputnik! predicted, it was bang on time. However, HA shows another one tonight at 23:04:49 which Sputnik doesn't mention.

Interestingly, with the pass just gone, I saw the satellite about a minute before the flare, it did two instantaneous flashes, VERY bright, about 10 seconds apart. I didn't know it was the same sat at the time, but when the flare came, it was travelling on the same path and at a speed which would have put it at the places of the two bright flashes.

Cheers,
Jason.

[gb_astro]

I see HA is predicting two flares only 29" apart on Feb 2 (Sydney) at almost the same location. 6:07:22 and 6:07:51. So they can get pretty close.

gb

[deanm]

Occasionally, you'll see two near-simultaneous flares on the same path. These are often a replacement Iridium being manoeuvered into the same orbit as a failed or end-of-life one. There are 66 active satellites and 13 spares in orbit. I've got a DSLR of an unexpected (and HA unpredicted) photo somewhere....

Dean