Yet another brightly flashing Molniya

From: Mike McCants (mmccants@io.com)
Date: Fri Dec 10 2004 - 10:16:11 EST

  • Next message: Greg Roberts: "Obs 08/09 Dec 2004"

    Last night I was startled when I spotted a satellite that
    flashed quite brightly every 6.7 seconds and moved very slowly
    from my southwest towards the zenith.  It flashed to about 4th
    magnitude.  Some flashes were "double flashes" separated by only
    0.2 seconds or so.
    
    I watched it for about 20 minutes in binoculars and my 8-inch
    telescope.  When I stopped, it was tumbling between magnitude
    8 and 10 with a period of 13.4 seconds.
    
    Today I identified it as:
    
    Molniya 1-53
    1 13070U 82015A   04342.11283199 +.00000208 +00000-0 -10109-2 0 07121 
    2 13070 063.6099 356.7662 7339679 280.1303 011.3385 02.00679506166832 
    
    BCRC:  30.3N  97.9W
    
    2004 Dec 9 CST Thu evening - times below are Dec 10 UT
    
    13070 Molniya 1-53   82 15A
     Mag Hrs Min Alt Azi    Hgt  Range(miles)
     10.1  2  30  27 220   3093   4312
      9.8  2  35  43 225   3872   4586
      9.7  2  40  55 232   4649   5058
      9.8  2  45  64 242   5412   5648
     10.0  2  50  70 256   6156   6300
    
    Mike McCants
    
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