FW: Debris field ??

From: Chris Peat (chris.peat@heavens-above.com)
Date: Wed Feb 06 2002 - 02:42:26 EST

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    Hi All,
    Another query from a Heavens-Above visitor. Can anyone give any advice.
    Personally I doubt very much this is a satellite(s).
    
    Chris
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: S & P McGhee [mailto:celt@xtra.co.nz]
    Sent: 06 February 2002 08:27
    To: Chris.Peat@heavens-above.com
    Subject: Debris field ??
    
    
     Hi Chris,
    
      Over the last week I have been watching a what I believe to be a
    separation debris field in the early evening. I was wondering if you were
    able to give me some idea of the source (or point me to someone who could).
    
    Observation Site: 35.125° S,  173.717° E (Northland, NZ)
    Sky position:  Originally sighted at approx 30° Alt in the NW @ ± 1000Hrs
    UTC
                          Over the last 5 days position has shifted and is now
    in Orion @ ± 0830 UTC
    Trajectory:  Stationary.  Group travels approx 15°NE each 24Hr
    
    Objects consist of multiple targets over a FOV of approximately 20° !
    giving random flashes up to Mag -8.
    There have been a number of bright green (standard hunk-o-junk) burnouts
    radiating from this group and given the decrease in flashes I believe most
    of the objects may have already decayed.
    
    I am losing the observations now due to the activity period drifting into
    the evening light, but hope to get a photo before I lose it completely (the
    clouds seem to have cleared at the last minute).
    
     This has been an amazing sequence (imagine a months Iridiums all stacked up
    into one area) and I'm sorry to see it go, so hopefully someone up your neck
    of the woods can pick it up and follow it. (pls. email me if it is visible
    to you, or for further details)
    
      Feel free to forward this (along with my email) to anyone who could be
    interested or may be able to ID it for me.
    
    Clear skies
    
     Pete McGhee
    
    
    
    
    
    
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