Posted by admin | Posted in Solar Panels | Posted on 18-02-2010
Tags: camping, energy, green, panels, solar, solar panels camping brisbane, solar panels camping perth
Was it an Iridium flare I saw?
Four or five years ago, my friend and I were on a six-day backpack. We camped in a stream, and looking for some Perseid meteors, when we both noticed a spot of light appear suddenly disappeared in the course of about a second. During this time, the intensity of light was so bright – I would say perhaps triple the brightness of Venus, at least. As disappeared, a point much more weak light seemed to shoot out of this position and travel across the sky. I guess this must have been just a satellite, whose solar panels perfectly reflected sunlight in our direction for the duration of a second. Is this what an outbreak of iridium is? What do we see?
It sounds like an Iridium flare. They usually last a few seconds and can eclipse Venus. As they fade, you can often track the satellite for a short time later, but almost the limit visibility to the naked eye. The reflection comes from one of 3 antennas attached to each satellite flat. The surface of each of these antennas is very reflective. It is possible also it was another (non-Iridium) satellite and went on to take a glint of sunlight on its solar panels. To find another Iridium flare, you can get predictions from this website: http://www.heavens-above.com/
Solar Panel charging Batteries for Camping
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