Iridium and Rockets

[Mick (Michael)]

Tonight I caught Iridium 34 -8mag at 19:42 and at the same time two other spent Rockets came trundling along to join the photo. Helios 1A Rocket is the dull flare like satellite on the right. This leftover space junk was part of the Ariane 4 Rocket that lifted the first in that series of European Military Observation satellite into orbit. Launch date Feb 1995. Helios 1A is still operational it can detect details of 1m from 700km altitude orbit. The other brighter satellite coming in from the left is Cosmos 1025 more rocket parts. Cosmos 1025 was launched in 1978 from Plesetsk, USSR payload unknown.

[iceman (Mike)]

Very very nice Mick! Great shot! Details of the capture?

There's a -8 going by overhead at my house tomorrow night around 22:00, i'm going to try and capture it for sure, at least this time the sky will be dark.

Just hope it's cloudless too.

[silvinator]

Great shot Mick! Were you aware that the rockets would be there or did you find out after you inspected your photo? Well, you are definitely our guru on catching iridium flares. Well done mate!

Hope you get your shot Mike.

[Mick (Michael)]

Thanks I wish I could say I knew the Rockets would be there but I didn't. I had to find the info on the passes later. You could see all three naked eye glorious sight.

[Robby]

Nice work Mick... Are the red bits clouds, or Aurora?
Cheers

[Mick (Michael)]

Thanks Robby, in the Tropics it is Cloud.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

You'd love my video camera Mick. Every single time I go to shoot the comet, or anything for that matter near sunrise/sunset I get about 3 satellite trails going through the frame. One night with a wide lens I got 49 of the things.

You must come over and see one day.

[Mick (Michael)]

Thanks Kevin, I definitely will come over one day soon.

[silvinator]

Don't worry Mick, you can just say you knew they were going to be there, we'll still believe you. But what a bonus for you anyway! Keep up the good work.