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Double Iridium Flare in Andromeda

Iridium class communication satellites have large solar panels, which can occasionally reflect bright sunlight onto your location. Very rarely, you can see two of these satellites pass over in close succession to one another. Such an occurrence is captured here.

 

The blurry looking 'star' just below and to the right of the flares is actually the Andromeda Galaxy - the most distant (2.5 million light years) object visible to the naked eye.

 

Unlabeled version

 

2 minute exposure, Nikon D70, 18mm at f/8.

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Uploaded on July 30, 2009
Taken on July 30, 2009