![]() Each satellite has three antennae 120 degrees apart and are positioned at angles of 40 degrees away from the axis of the body of the satellite. The antennae are highly reflective aluminium plates treated with silver-coated Teflon and it is these that reflect the Sun’s disk so effectively. Iridium Flares are caused by reflection of the Sun off the Main Mission Antennae (MMA). This was the first ever in-orbit collision involving a commercial satellite. It was an Iridium satellite that was involved in the collision with a Russian satellite in 2009 resulting in a cloud of debris that poses a risk to other satellites.The satellites are arranged in six orbital planes of eleven active satellites.The Iridium constellation was planned originally to have 77 satellites 77 is the atomic number of Iridium – hence the name.These 66 satellites are in low Earth orbit at a height of approximately 485 miles and orbit at speeds of approximately 17,000 mph.To provide this coverage requires 66 active satellites in orbit to as well as additional spare satellites as ‘back-up’ in case of failure.The Iridium network is unique in that it covers the entire planet, including poles, oceans and airspace it is an essential component of communications with remote science camps.Here are some interesting facts about the Iridium satellite constellation: which sells equipment and access to its services. The satellites are owned by the Iridium Communications Inc. The real question is what ARE they? The Iridium satellite constellation is a large group of satellites providing voice and data coverage to satellite phones, pagers etc. ![]() Flares can be so bright that they can be seen in daylight. You will know when you are observing a flare when the satellite increases in brightness very quickly (to perhaps magnitude -8 or -9) for a few seconds before dimming down just as quickly and to a similar brightness of a dim star. ![]() So what does a flare actually look like?Ī satellite will first appear to the observer as a dim star moving across the sky (perhaps magnitude 5 or 6). However, bright flares are most frequently associated with Iridium satellites. Some of these objects can also flare, or more commonly they change only slightly in brightness and sometimes will disappear completely – only to reappear in seconds or maybe as long as a minute or two later. a rotating satellite or a piece of tumbling orbital debris (space junk such as bits of launch stages) that is still orbiting the Earth. Note that there are many different objects up there that change in brightness by means of their changing position relative to the sun and observer or by presenting a constantly changing surface, e.g. The flare can be as a result of reflections off surfaces such as the satellite body or solar panels. What is a Flare?Ī satellite flare (or satellite glint) is the phenomenon caused by the reflective surfaces on satellites reflecting sunlight directly onto the Earth and appear as a brief brightening of the satellite. In the following paragraphs I provide a little information about why satellites flare, what a flare looks like, when they happen and how to capture a photograph of one. I got onto the subject of satellites and had just started to talk about satellite flares – when just at that moment a tiny dim satellite we had both been watching suddenly flared as if on cue. ![]() Another guest joined me and he asked about what can be seen in the night sky with just the naked eye. Whilst sitting under a near cloudless sky at a neighbour’s 25th wedding anniversary celebration, I couldn’t help but look out for a passing satellite or two it becomes irresistible. They can be a nuisance – a long CCD exposure spoiled by a streak of light across the image of your galaxy – and there’s a lot of them up there.Ī satellite flare is one of the more interesting occurrences. Print This Post Spotting Iridium Flares by Peter Campbell-Burns Featured Articles, Resources - By Peter Campbell-Burns on Jat 5:37 pmĪnyone who spends even the smallest amount of time outside watching the night sky will have seen a satellite pass by – a dim pinpoint of light discernable from the background stars only by its movement across the sky – sometimes slow moving, sometimes moving very quickly.
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