Iridium Flare

This is an almost daily event that happens when an Iridium satelite reflects the sun at a precise angle which only lasts a matter of seconds. If people don't know what they're seeing, they can think that they've seen a UFO, a plane or "who know's what". These are calculated and are forecasted. They're fun to wait for when they're going to be bright!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Iridium flare
• satellite
• ufo

[MrEdmBob]

I've tried heavens above for predicted flares, but have not seen any in 7 or 8 attempts. Maybe my watch is off....

Nice catch.

[mwdroo]

@MrEdmBob

Thanks :) Funny you say that as I've not had much success for some time now either and am wondering if I've got multiple watches off!

[Sirchud68]

Twice I have seen bright flare like lights that were bright then faded out. I don't know if it was the angle or what but they seemed stationary. Any ideas? Maybe just the way I glanced up?

[mwdroo]

Depending on the angle and time of day etc, they can be very fast, a mere second easy. I'd say that's what you saw :)

[NtlgntNrg]

I saw similar to this but it was quick, like a second - flash and it was gone, no more...was it Iridium Flare? Or super nova? Super nova would be slower right? But I don't see any news about super nova, so it might be something different. Iridium Flares seem to last up to 5 seconds???

[mwdroo]

It was most likely an iridium flare. They can actually be seen for more than 5 seconds depending on the time of day etc.

[Ciwan2]

Nice one :)

[AlienshateU]

@Sirchud68 A stationary satellite? Many have seen the same. You know it was one of these iridium flares.

[AlienshateU]

People have seen multiple things at once similar to this, but changing directions. And they were not forecast before those those times. So don't get too happy calling everything an iridium flare like this one.

[jj120]

the predictions are really accurate!