Last night at around 18:55 the HST made an unusual pass over my location, it was unusual in that it flared like an Iridium. It was predicted to be 1.8 mag. but it would have been closer to -2.0 and at the flare peek it was around -8.0. I have been reading that sometimes the aft skirt on the telescope can cause this type of reflection just like an Iridium.
Hi Mick, it happened over my location the evening before, in fact it is a regular occurrence, so it pays to look everytime it is passing overhead near sundown,you may gat a big surprise. Also watch for the ISS to do the same thing. astroron
what? huh? You guys are observing satellites??! 1.8 mag? -2? isn't that like REALLY bright?? Is there any more info somewhere about "finding" these objects?? Sounds cool, can you get them in your scope or are they too small and too fast?
what? huh? You guys are observing satellites??! 1.8 mag? -2? isn't that like REALLY bright?? Is there any more info somewhere about "finding" these objects?? Sounds cool, can you get them in your scope or are they too small and too fast?
Sorry, been away working for a few days. No not a typo it was very bright Ving, it caught me by surprise I knew it was the HST but I didn't expect it to flare. I see on seesat that HST flares can be predicted.
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Originally Posted by ving
-8? is that a typo??
seen the iss really bright a few times now, but not the hst... have to keep an eye out. thanks!
The HST passed over tonight and transited at 18:51, mag 1.8, but just before it went into the earths shadow flaired to about mag -4, it's qute good to watch in Bino's
