You can make a direct "before and after" comparison by having a look at my main page , which has now been updated for last nights pass. Compare the pass of Dec28 to that of Oct 31.They both took place under similar conditions http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/March2005.html On Oct 31 the radiator was glowing nicely...............so too in this short animation http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/slow.wmv It was even just viz as a white patch in the daylight shot from Sept 19....... It will be interesting to see how observations from other parts of the world turn out , but to me it seems we are back to predicted magnitudes. Of course there's every possibility that the P3 radiator may flare under certain conditions.....perhaps someone can do the math :O) 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 >> >> >> >> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: > http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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