I'll use this page to list the uncommon things you can usually only see through a telescope, with a few notable exceptions like iridium flares and close comets. I've read that it's a common goal for amateur astronomers to try to track down and see all of the first 100 Messier objects. Hopefully someday I can get into astrophotography and post photos alongside each. Unless otherwise noted, each observation was made from my home.

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Iridium Flares | Messier Objects | New General Catalogue | Solar System Objects

Iridium Flares

Iridium 41
4/27/2006 5:17:52 AM

We nearly missed it by looking in the wrong direction and only caught the last 3 seconds or so. Magnitude: -3, Altitude: 17°, Azimuth: 22° (NNE), Mirror angle: 0.4°

Iridium 53
11/23/2005 4:52:08 AM

Moved from north to south. Altitude: 20° Azimuth: 179°

Iridium 40
11/21/2005 5:50:01 AM

I almost missed it since it was low to the horizon and had to see it through the leaves of a tree. It moved from north to south horizontally across the eastern sky. Altitude: 16° Azimuth: 68°

Iridium 13
11/19/2005 5:20:43 PM

Carolaina and I briefly observed the flare through a break in the clouds. It may have flared longer, but was only visible for 2 seconds because of cloud cover. It moved from south to north nearly straight overhead. Altitude: 69° Azimuth: 44°