ICEINSPACE
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07-12-2010, 09:19 PM
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Canon collector
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Taylors Lakes Melb
Posts: 1,965
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Iridium Flares
Just down loaded this app "Iridium Flares" which tells you the time, intensity, direction, name and more.  reviews sound good and say it's accurate, now I just have to wait for a clear night  to test it out.
Cheers Daniel.
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07-12-2010, 11:01 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 26,637
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I'll have to check it out, thanks for the heads-up Daniel !
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07-12-2010, 11:52 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tassie
Posts: 1,104
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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.
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08-12-2010, 07:00 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ruse, Australia
Posts: 232
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Satellite Tracker (ProSat) covers a multitude of satellites and is suitable for iPad as is GoSatWatch
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08-12-2010, 11:46 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 26,637
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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
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08-12-2010, 05:35 PM
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Canon collector
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Taylors Lakes Melb
Posts: 1,965
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Nice find RB,  just installed it, looks pretty good and it's free!!
Cheers Daniel.
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08-12-2010, 07:47 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 877
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Sputnik: pretty well spot on with Heavens Above.
Thanks Andrew.
gb.
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08-01-2011, 12:14 PM
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Canon collector
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Taylors Lakes Melb
Posts: 1,965
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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.
Cheers Daniel.
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08-01-2011, 02:10 PM
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Supernova Searcher
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cambroon Queensland Australia
Posts: 9,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 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

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Andrew I don't think it is possible to see an Iridium flair at that time  , the sun is is too far on the other side of the world and the satalites are to low 
I await to see if I am Wrong 
Cheers
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08-01-2011, 02:16 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 26,637
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astroron
Andrew I don't think it is possible to see an Iridium flair at that time  , the sun is is too far on the other side of the world and the satalites are to low 
I await to see if I am Wrong 
Cheers
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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.
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28-01-2011, 12:16 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,648
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gb_astro
Sputnik: pretty well spot on with Heavens Above.
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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.
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28-01-2011, 08:50 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 877
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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.
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28-01-2011, 09:41 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,648
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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.
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28-01-2011, 11:19 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 877
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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
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04-02-2011, 04:23 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 818
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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
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