[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Fw: [Greek-Astronomy] Re: Fw: (meteorobs) Fireball from Greece, October 8
----- Original Message -----
From: <petros1gr@netscapedot net>
To: <Greek-Astronomy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 12:33 AM
Subject: RE: [Greek-Astronomy] Re: Fw: (meteorobs) Fireball from Greece,
October 8
Antoni,
I guess we don't know if she was experienced enough! I have seen such a very
bright iridium flash, and yes someone could call it as bright as the moon,
but I could never confuse it to a meteor. Though, a couple of months ago
there was a report to BAA of a very bright star (-4mag) appearing for a few
seconds and then fading, from England. There where speculations of a very
bright gamma-ray burst, but this turned out to be an iridium flash! I can't
understand how the observer missed to see the sattelite motion, but I guess
he wasn't experienced enough...
Petros
"ayiomamitis" <anthony@perseus.gr> wrote:
>Grigori,
>
> The time of observation was around sunset. The 2-3 second duration
>makes me wonder if she perhaps caught a satellite overhead pass. I
>doubt if it was the ISS since its visible passes are much greater than
>2-3 seconds (more like 4-5 minutes) but iridium satellites do flare
>for a few seconds during early evening. As for the magnitude she notes
>(greater than the moon at -12.6 or thereabouts), it is in the vicinity
>for an iridium flare since these have a maximum magnitude of -8.5 or
>so and can appear really very bright depending on sky conditions.
>
>AA.
The archive and Web site for our list is at http://www.meteorobs.org
To stop getting all email from the 'meteorobs' lists, use our Webform:
http://www.meteorobs.org/subscribe.html