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View Full Version here: : Satellite flare search and nice one in Melb tonight 29th March.


vespine
29-03-2006, 08:32 AM
Someone here recently pointed me to the http://www.heavens-above.com/ website and it has me absolutely fascinated!

Especially this bit http://www.heavens-above.com/iridium.asp?lat=-37.817&lng=144.967&alt=58&loc=Melbourne&TZ=AEST&Dur=7

This shows you the events predicted for melbourne and as you can see there's a great one tonight:

29th March 20:38:12; 170 degrees(S)Az; 37 degrees Alt; Intensity -7 (!!)

The epicentre being only 4km east of melb. Intensity does drop considerably with distance, so if you aren't very close to melb it won't be as bright, by 30km away from melb the intensity is only 0. That's still pretty bright I guess but it's not -7 ! Isn't that bright enough to cast a shadow?? I've never seen one so I'm crossing my fingers for clear skies.

I registered myself on the website and while trying to find the exact location of my house I came across this site:

http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/interactive.jsp (just click "Or continue to the map.")

which people may find useful, you can enter your address and get very precise coordinates. So if you aren't close to melb you can enter your own location on heavens-above and look up the "iridium flares" that are happening close to you... happy hunting :)

Mick
29-03-2006, 11:47 PM
Hi vespine, Iridium flares are addictive. :)

vespine
30-03-2006, 06:51 AM
Alright, who bought a scope yesterday? I'm holding you personally responsible for the complete could cover all of yesterday ;) They seem quite frequent so I'm sure I'll catch one soon..

danielsun
03-04-2006, 10:35 PM
Yes, sorry about that Vespine. It was me!!! I bought a new eyepeice on sat and have been dying to test it out and ,yes as you know clouds just came from everywhere!!!!!:(

vespine
03-04-2006, 11:14 PM
Actually, since then.. well, i may have gone and bought the 12" lightbridge and! Come on! Give me a frikken break! Non stop cloud cover for 5 days in a row now and the rest of the week doesn't look like letting up either :(

spacezebra
08-04-2006, 09:07 PM
Hey there

Nothing but clear skied here LB went for a spin tonight - lookin good!


Cheers Petra