That's not a UFO; it's an iridium flare

Hidesert Star
Thursday September 30, 2004

That's not a UFO; it's an iridium flare

MORONGO BASIN - Some people gazing upward may have seen a sudden flash in the sky recently - or years ago - leaving them to wonder what in the world it could be.

According to longtime astronomer Sam Davidson, the flash is nothing more than an iridium flare.

The flare occurs when sunlight is reflected from the antenna of one of a set of 66 communications satellites, said Davidson.

The satellites are relatively small telecommunications satellites in a low Earth orbit and are part of a world-wide system for mobile communications, states a information report about the flares.

Three main mission antennas on the satellites have flat, highly reflective surfaces that flash sunlight to the night-sky watcher on Earth.

"It usually lasts a mere five seconds or so," added Davidson.

An iridium flare can be seen about every 10 days in the Basin, but it has a schedule and the times are not always the same.

The flare can usually be seen in Yucca Valley. Twentynine Palms residents probably won't be able to view the flash because of the position of the satellite with the sun, said the astronomer.

The next flare that can be seen in Yucca Valley will be at 7:40 p.m.Thursday high in the southeast of the sky, said Davidson.

The flare is expected to be brighter than Venus.

The path of the satellite is usually north to south, so Landers should also be able to catch a glimpse at the flash, he explained