Fwd: RE: japanese twinkler
Paul L. Sventek (sventek@ibm.net)
Fri, 04 Dec 1998 20:59:23 -0600
Here's an observation of interest...
>----------
>From: George Kelley, Jr.[SMTP:StarGazer@naxs.com]
>Sent: Friday, December 04, 1998 8:30 PM
>To: 'George Kelley, Jr.'
>Subject: RE: japanese twinkler
>
>Paul, here it is:
>
>As is my habit each clear evening, this day ( Dec. 4, 1998) I surveyed the
night sky with my naked eye. Between 6:12 and 6:13 P.M.., E.S.T, a
flashing 3rd magnitude object passed about one degree east of Vega, moving
northeastwardly. The flashing rate was on the order of 2 per second. From
the time I saw it, it remained visible between 10 to 15 seconds then rather
quickly faded from view, still twinkling as it dimmed. Its appearance was
quite similar to binocular views I have had of the "Japanese Twinkler"
(satellite EGP), only this object was much brighter.
>
>From data generated by Paul Sventek, I have determined, to my complete
satisfaction, that the object seen was the satellite Iridium 20, which is
tumbling. I had the pleasure of serendipitously catching the tumbling
Iridium as it passed through one of its "flash windows."
>
>George Kelley, Jr.
>Lat. N 36 45 12 Long. W 81 44 57
>