Last night a -1 flare was to be visible about 6:42 so I went outside with a compass to get my bearings and estimated the 50 or so degrees altitude. I estimated it would be about midway between Alpha Centauri and Peacock. After a minute or so, and about right on schedule, a "star" appeared from nowhere, about the same brightness as Alpha Centauri...as expected. I watched for a few seconds as it slowly moved a half degree or so across the sky and then faded from view.
Tonight there is supposed to be a -8 in almost exactly the same location and about 5 minutes earlier....fingers crossed! The -1 was interesting, but I am looking forward to the -8, but I don't know if I will invite the neighbours over quite yet. Haven't recovered from the last "non event".
Glad to hear you finally caught one.
Now that you know what to look for, don't hesitate to impress the neighbours.
Let us know what you think of the -8
Well, I went out last night a couple of minutes before due time and checked my bearings with a compass. Fortunately, the clouds had thinned in Melbourne a bit in the previous hour or so. I said to my daughter "I'm going to catch a flare, do you want to come, you've got two minutes". I stared into the approximate area and right on time (I guess it was, but I did not dare to take my eyes off the sky to check) a "star" about the brightness of Alpha Centauri came from nowhere. Over the next second or so it brightened steadily until it looked like a light from an aircraft, only infinitely smaller. After a few seconds it slowly moved and faded away. So that was my first -8. Then I heard the back door open, I turned and said "too late, you just missed it". I think there was something interesting on "Neighbours"...although isn't that an oxymoron? Or maybe there is no "oxy"?
I think there is a -6 in a few days, have to print out flares for next week.
