Re: sun tracking solar panels and possible flares

From: John Locker (john@satcom.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Thu Dec 28 2006 - 17:35:27 EST

  • Next message: David Brierley: "DMB Obs December 28"

    I'm convinced Robert that the extra brightness seen during "pre" STS116 
    passes was solely down to the reflective quality of the P3 radiator.
    
    
    John
    
    
    
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: "Robert Holdsworth" <robbonz1@xtra.co.nz>
    To: "Seesat List" <SeeSat-L@satobs.org>
    Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 10:27 PM
    Subject: Re: sun tracking solar panels and possible flares
    
    
    >I observed the ISS this morning our time on a pass commencing 0243  UTC.
    >
    > This is the first pass I have been able to observe since the  latest 
    > modifications: the lack of observation was owing to initially having no 
    > visible passes and subsequently almost continuous cloud cover.
    >
    > Magnitude was normal here too at about mag 1 to -1, whereas passes before 
    > the changes had shown higher magnitudes (about -2 or -3) on acquisition 
    > gradually fading with an orange tinge being more noticeable as it faded.
    > (Today's pass was higher in elevation than those observed before I "lost" 
    > the ISS for a month or so.)
    >
    > However the orange coloration was evident on all of this pass, not 
    > pronounced to start with but as the ISS receded the orange predominated, 
    > and was very distinct through binoculars.
    >
    > A subsequent lower elevation dawn pass was not seen, the sky was quite 
    > bright.
    >
    > Robert
    > Wainuiomata
    > New Zealand
    > 41.261S
    > 174.948E
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > ----- Original Message ----- 
    > From: "John Locker" <john@satcom.freeserve.co.uk>
    > To: <SeeSat-L@satobs.org>
    > Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 10:07 AM
    > Subject: Re: sun tracking solar panels and possible flares
    >
    >
    >> Didnt notice any flares tonight Tom...in fact there was no orange glow 
    >> either.
    >> In addition I would say that brightness was as predicted .
    >> What was missing was the extra " brightness" from the new radiator.
    >> Previously , before the sun tracking was put in operation , the new 
    >> radiator was "earth pointing" and very bright.Now it moves as the
    >> array rotates and seems  less reflective.
    >>
    >> John
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >
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