05 May 2009 04:01:26 • -9 • 58° 271° (W ) • 2.2 km (E) • -9 • Iridium 94

I set my alarm for 3.55 am in anticipation of seeing an Iridium Flare for the first time. This one was a particularly spectacular magnitude -9 (higher negative=brighter) and even though it was slightly overcast I saw a little dot which by the time my eye had tracked it, it had grown considerably brighter to the point where it was illuminating the clouds. And then it vanished. I was just just agawp going “wow!!!”
An Iridium Flare is the reflection of sunlight off the solar panels of the Iridium constellation of satellites, which act a bit like disco mirror balls in the sky. As they are precisely pointed the timing and positions of the flares can be accurately predicted. Go to heavensabove.com and enter your home location (easiest using Google Maps link), and then click on Satellites -> Iridium Flares -> next 7 days. You’ll see a list of all the bright flares in your location and how far the brightest part is near to you.
It’s something you won’t be able to witness for too much longer as the satellites will eventually be decommissioned or smash into eachother, so boogie on down to the celestial disco while the show lasts!