Regarding EGP (86-061A, 16908, also called "Ajisai" as well as "EGS" for "Experimental Geodetic Satellite" ) versus Starshines, besides the large difference in size (of the satellite and of the individual specular surfaces) and the rotational speed, the specular surfaces on EGP are convex rather than flat (thanks to Ron Welch of Australia for sending a copy of a very informative article: "Launch and Observation Program of the Experimental Geodetic Satellite of Japan", Minoru Sasaki and Hidekazu Hashimoto, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. GE-25, No. 5, September, 1987.) Of course on the other hand there is a very large difference in orbital height, in favor of Starshines. It seems to me that the convex reflectors may make a significant difference in EGP/Ajisai's observability. As all who have seen it know, even though it requires binoculars to see it (except maybe from Mauna Kea and a few other incredibly wonderful locations?), it's easy to find it and to track it, and it's also fun. Anyway, there are a number of photos of EGP/Ajisai online; here's a page with three different views, including one with three people in the photo: http://www.nasda.go.jp/sat/egs/index_e.html 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
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