[MIham] Space Station Flares

[Frank]

Space Weather News for May 26, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

SPACE STATION FLARES:  Lately, a growing number of observers are reporting 
intense "flares" coming from the International Space Station (ISS).  During 
some nighttime flybys, the luminosity of the space station surges 10-fold or 
more. Some people have witnessed flares of magnitude -8 or twenty-five times 
brighter than Venus.  A movie featured on today's edition of 
http://spaceweather.com shows what is happening: sunlight glints from the 
station's recently expanded solar arrays in a shadow-casting flash. 
Currently, the flares are unpredictable.  You watch a flyby not knowing if 
one will happen or how bright it might be.  That's what makes the hunt for 
"ISS flares" so much fun.

Sky watchers in North America should be alert for flares this week.  The ISS 
is making a series of evening passes over many US and Canadian towns and 
cities.  Flyby times are available from the Simple Satellite Tracker: 
http://spaceweather.com/flybys


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