I think it’s more that I am viewing it from the side when the Sun is Low on the Polar Horizon relative to the station...

Optically, the sun is nearly behind my viewing position, and as the station begins to set on the opposite horizon, the solar panels if aimed at the sun, for a brief moment reflect a huge amount of light my direction.

I supposed it is possible that what I am actually seeing is the bottom side of the solar panels. But I'm not sure if the bottom side of the panels is reflective enough to cause such a phenomenon.

But like I said, it’s only a guess that what I am seeing is a reflection caught off the solar panels. One thing is for sure, every once in a while it will briefly out shine anything else in the night sky, except the Moon (and those large triangle things that make all that electrical noise as thy are flying over).

Scott (Antidotal Observations made by me may or may not be reliable)

Scott