Molniya 3-11 OBS Suggestion

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I would suspect that the better elset to have used is as follows:

Molniya 3-11                                     1675 x 80 km
1 11240U 79004A   98336.01014864  .60575427  11673+0  50711-3 0 90733
2 11240  61.8837 336.5510 1099282 285.8134  62.3555 14.04751488149673

This was posted by Alan.  You will note the 0.25 rev/day difference
in mean motion.   That can add up quickly.  Since this object will
decay within a few days, it is essential to use an elset that is 
close to the observation time.   Observing several minutes early
may help as well even though my Obs of the last few days have been
within 15 seconds.

With binoculars, it is a reasonably easy object to see.  Since quite
a few folks have taken an active interest in this object, maybe the obs
reports will be of value to Alan.  Even if not, this has given several
people the chance to see Molniya's.

Ron Lee


>    Observed Molniya 3-11 (11240) 79004A this eve.  It appears to be
>running 32.44 secs early and about 2 degrees east of predicted
>trajectory using the following elset.
>
>MOLNIYA 3-11
>1 11240U 79004A   98335.72189432  .50085855  00000-0  67499-4 0   741
>2 11240  61.8969 337.3812 1276840 285.7448  60.7587 13.70997889149639
>
>  Skymap projected a near eclipse of Saturn and this bird was at least 2
>degrees below
>Saturn on transit.  Estimated using the five degree field of view of my
>8 x 40's.
>
>
>98/12    35.316N 89.866W 100m          2000
>01
>7900401 002516.06 015044+065859  5.0 5.5  S
>
>Jim
>
>

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