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Dean,
G'day.
I recently knocked up a little Explanatory Document about Iridium Flares to stir the interest among non-astronomy friends. And yes, I got it all from Wikipedia.
Wiki says that the shape of the door-sized, reflective antenna reflects and focuses sunlight down onto the Earth's surface over an area about 10 km in diameter.
Also says that the Solar Panel arrays can produce a flare which may last a few times longer, but this will not be as bright.
Also says there are many controlled satellites in addition to Iridium satellites, which can also flare, but most flares of these satellites do not exceed magnitude −2, therefore, they are often overlooked.
However, MetOp-A and B, however, can produce predictable flares up to −5 mag. Four COSMO-SkyMed satellites can produce flares up to −4 mag., but their peculiarity is that they last much longer than the Iridium flares.
Most flares from other satellites are almost indistinguishable from dim Iridium flares.
I have only ever looked for Iridium Flares as predicted on H-A. What a great party trick though - pointing out a dim satellite to someone and getting them to watch unsuspectingly as it brightens, flares and then dims. (Then I offer to send them the Explanatory notes).
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