Finally, first good weekend evening in weeks! And just about the last chance to see Superbird A (89-041A, 20040) on this visit. It was only about 10 degrees above the horizon, but kind of close to Mars so not too hard to find. I watched it between electric lines, just above a treetop. This was using binoculars, but it was still pretty bright -- a near-perfect evening except for the moonlight: 89- 41 B 01-12-23 04:13:21.6 EC 272.9 0.3 12 22.74 Iridium 911 (24842) -- flashed after culmination, in the SSW: 97- 30 G 01-12-23 01:41:10.7 EC 77.3 0.3 12 6.45 mag -1.0->inv Galaxy 5 Rk (21907) (actually nine clicks, but asymmetrical): 19.43 + 18.62 = 38.05 19.44 + 18.37 = 37.81 19.39 + 18.58 = 37.97 19.31 + 18.29 = 37.60 19.40 92- 13 B 01-12-23 01:20:01 EC 151.4 1.0 4 37.9 mag +3.5->inv Intelsat 503 Rk (13007): 81-119 B 01-12-23 02:15:57.5 EC 45.0 0.5 6 7.5 mag 3.5->inv asymm? There was a very nice ISS pass, must have been about -1. HST did a nice -1 or -2 flare near Mars at about 1:35:02. Saw a zero mag flare of Iridium 6 through tree branches at only about eight degrees above the horizon. Also saw Iridium 86 "?" and 83 flare as predicted. Cosmos 2195 Rk (22007, 92-036B) was easily a full magnitude brighter than predicted using Quicksat intrinsic mag of +4.0 (approx. standard mag. of +5.5). Otherwise seemed steady. Disappointment -- looked unsuccessfully for Molniya 3-42 (92-067A, 22178), which was easy one-power three or four weeks ago. No luck on any flashing geosynchs. I find it's harder to hold binoculars very long in cooler weather and/or I'm out of practice after so much unfavorable weather (and some meteor shower distractions). There was a not-too-good Starshine 2 pass, but I let myself get distracted by NOAA 13 and missed even trying for it. Whoops! Observing location was grounds of the Elisabet Ney Musuem, about 30.307N, 97.727W, 150m. It's worse this time of year due to the bare tree branches allowing much more incident light (e.g., tennis courts) into the area, and the lights are on through most of the observing session -- not like in the summer. Clear, dark nights, happy holidays, and safe travels to all -- as applicable. Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Dec 23 2001 - 02:22:22 EST