Meteor or Decay observe.

From: Daniel Crawford (djcunix@sound.scc.net)
Date: Tue Apr 22 2003 - 12:28:11 EDT

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    Observation Details.
    
    Object observed 22 April 0318GMT
                    21 April 2218 Local
    
    
    GMT -5
    
    45.0472 -93.3663
    
    A friend of mine (Dave) and I were out last evening to take a look at
    Iridium 914(t) and saw something that was either a very slow meteor
    (probable) or a decay
    
    We first noticed the object either due North, or just to the west of
    North.  We were in the process of "What is that?" before I figured that we
    should get a time.
    
    I ran into the house and yelled at Dave to start counting.  He started
    "one thousand one, one thousand two etc"  I checked my computer time,
    synched up earlier in the evening.  The time was 22:18:22.  Dave made his
    count to 26, so I estimate that this object was visible for 30 seconds or
    more.  The object was in fact observable at the time mentioned, and
    probably for at least 20 seconds after my time check.
    
    The track took it to the NNW, somewhat faster than I have seen any LEO
    before, but much slower than any meteors I have observed.  (I have never
    seen a fireball).
    
    The color was pinkish-orange, the brightness was difficult to estimate,
    but not bright enough to attract attention if you were not looking up.
    This appeared to be an "area" target for me, not just one point of light.
    Dave states that he is sure he saw more than one object traveling in
    formation together. (he states 5-6 objects together)  I assume, something
    had broken up.
    
    Difficult for me to remember the elevation of the object when we first
    noticed it.  I would say that it was 15 degrees higher and just to the
    right of Polaris when we noticed.  (very excited then, did not take time
    for more accurate checks)
    
    I did a quick check on possible decaying objects this morning and came up
    blank.  Later on, coming into work I checked again and noticed that the
    alldat.tle file that I had was not up to date.  I downloaded a new copy,
    and ran this through satevo for "a quick check".  I then decided to
    further break it down by only checking on retrograde objects.
    
    I found a couple of debris objects that come close to fitting a track, but
    do not know if any were that close to decay and fit a track.  Satevo
    didn't think so.
    
    
    Any thoughts or input?
    
    Regards,
    
    Daniel Crawford
    
    
    
    
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