The images below are of an Iridium flare. They are a set of telecommunication satellites orbiting the Earth. These Iridium satellites have three large antenna set at 120 degrees apart. The orbit of these satellites are so accurate that predictions can be made of when they will pass over your site. As these satellites go over, they catch the sunlight, and they flare for a few seconds. Some of these flares can reach a magnitude of minus 8!
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Taken on 2000/04/29. I started the exposure at 21:47UT for 25 seconds. I suddenly realised that it could miss the edge of the frame. I quickly ended the exposure, moved the camera and took another. Film: Elite chrome ISO400. |
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Taken a few seconds later than the one above. This was also for about 25 seconds. You can see the image brighten considerably. At its peak, this flare reached mag.-6.9. Film: Elite chrome ISO400. |
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An enlarged version of the image above. Notice the little jump just as the image brightens. Film: Elite chrome ISO400. |