Never see Iridium Flares!

[torqueofthedevil]

I've got the app and today magnitude -7.9 was passing.

I'm pretty sure I was looking in the correct direction, very little cloud, may have got altitude wrong.

It's about the 5th I've tried to see but not seen!

Driving up tons spot tomorrow night, it will be mag -8.0 and ill be up on a dark country lane.

Any advice for spotting them? And how to get altitude right? I'm thinking of using a protractor somehow and maybe get some binoculars?

[MikeGTi]

I've seen loads just through being somewhere dark and having a lot of patience.

If you can't see them with the naked eye though you'll never find them with binoculars!

[jmorgan]

I tend to spot them by accident. That is looking for the ISS or some other activity along those lines. I will look at starry night when the ISS is over to see what Iridiums to expect and there is Heavens Above.

[Malx]

You should be able to see them a few (5 or so) seconds before the flare depending on the mag, you'll see a dull thing moving before the flare.

What I tend to do, and I may be wrong is if the flare is at 45 degree I look at the mid point between the horizon and directly up. I have an app for my phone and it is meant to show the angle to look at but I can't work it out.

If the flare is east, I look east and stare in the middle of the sky wait for m eye to catch something moving.

It's a humbling site after seeing one for the first time.

[hornet]

I've never seen one on purpose, but I think I saw one last time I was out looking for the ISS. Most impressive.

[MartG]

OP - just check you're not getting the time wrong due to BST v. GMT

[marksx]

Which app do you use?

I have one called ISS detector. This has count downs to the pass for the ISS and the Iridiums, and has a pointer so you turn you phone to where you need to look.

[torqueofthedevil]

haha it was the BST / GMT issue! No wonder ive not seen anything!

I dont use the pointers / compass on my iphone - it just spins around all over the place, i can get a more acurate position just using a map and bearing.

[Malx]

Should be a good one tonight. Starting at 18:57:56, South East direction, 47 degrees, Mag -8.0