The Resurs 01 Rocket nearly transits Jupiter

From: sciteach@mchsi.com
Date: Fri Aug 20 2010 - 15:35:53 UTC

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    Around 5:23 AM CDT this morning, (8/20/10) here in Waterloo, Iowa, I was taking the garbage can to the curb when I looked up, out of habit. Brilliant Jupiter was high in the west. That caught my attention. Then I spotted a very bright satellite (the Resurs 01 Rocket, I found out) moving along an orbit that was oriented toward the SSW. 
    
    First of all I am not accustomed to seeing a satellite moving “backwards” - as it were. Secondly it was unusually bright ~ mag 1.7. Thirdly it was closing in on Jupiter. For a while, I was wondering if it was going to transit the planet. It narrowly missed.
    
    I would highly recommend watching for this very interesting satellite.
    
    Tom  Iowa  USA
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