double double trouble

Walter Nissen (dk058@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Tue, 8 Dec 1998 11:21:22 -0500 (EST)

Recently, the word "double" has been doubled.  In meaning, that is.  It 
has been applied to two different phenomena. 
 
1)  Multiple satellites:  Two different satellites which glint at the same 
time. 
 
2)  Multiple glints:  A single satellite which glints at different times 
during a single pass. 
 
There is a third phenomenon which I observed very recently, perhaps a 1a) 
phenomenon:  Two different satellites in the same field of view at the 
same time which glint at different times without any overlap. 
 
I think careful observers should have the vocabulary to distinguish these. 
 
I suggest that double should be reserved for phenomena of type 2), where 
only a single satellite is glinting.  Triple, quadruple, etc., follow 
naturally. 
 
I would suggest that the term "paired" be used for type 1), but then what 
could be used to describe the early post-launch OBS where more than 2 can 
be glinting at the same time?  Tripletted?  Can someone suggest something 
better? 
 
Any suggestions? 
 
Cheers. 
 
Walter Nissen                   dk058@cleveland.freenet.edu
-81.8637, 41.3735, 256m elevation