Re: Important STARLINK observation from Carefree, Arizona USA

From: Brad Young via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2020 05:23:10 +0000 (UTC)
I had the exact opposite experience on the previous pass. U was 3rd magnitude on a very good (75 deg NE) pass, as were all of the train surrounding it. I had someone email me asking what all those satellites were, and she stated:

 "looking tonight for Pan Starrs T2 and saw 35 aprox satellites flying in formation 10° apart,  three parallel, sheparding.  Came up about 40° WNW below Cassiopeia heading almost 90°? overhead to the East.  Was counting as they came up so didn't see them fade in the east in the trees.  Let me know what they are Please."

Given that P, U, and B were displaced parallel off the train for us, I take this to mean she also saw U as one of the 3 (the shepherds) and made no distinction if one was dim. As she is a Master Observer, she would have said something.

Also, noticed the ones in the later train (D, S, C, E) were not the brightness expected or predicted; D and E were bright at 56 and 44 deg in W, whereas the others, falling between them, were only seen in binoculars. All data to be posted soon.

Brad Young PE
Advisory Consultant
ConsenSys Space
Visual:
Oberwerk 8 x 40 Mariner binoculars
Meade ETX-125 
22" f/4.2 UC Obsession
COSPAR 8336 =TULSA1 +36.139208,-95.983429 660ft, 201m
COSPAR 8335 =TULSA2 +35.8311  -96.1411 1083ft, 330m
Remote Imaging:
MPC I89 COSPAR 7777 38.165653 -2.326735 5150ft, 1650m Nerpio, Spain
MPC Q62 COSPAR 7778 -31.2733 149.0644 3400ft, 1122m Siding Spring, NSW, Australia 
MPC H06 COSPAR 7779 32.92 -105.528 7298ft, 2225m Mayhill, New Mexico USA 
MPC 323 COSPAR 7782 -32.008 116.135 984ft, 300m Perth, WA, Australia






On Saturday, February 1, 2020, 09:08:10 PM CST, PAUL MALEY via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org> wrote: 





Moments ago I observed the P piece from the January 6 STARLINK launch at 02:45:49UT Feb 1 followed at 02:48:23 by the U piece.  The latter is the one that is reported to have a dark coating. Both objects are now in their operational orbits 427 x 429km. The P spacecraft appeared at about magnitude 4.0. The U object appeared at 6.5.  Both were observed at the same phase angle on an ascending pass. This was not the most favorable phase but the fact that two objects are so different in their reflection characteristics would suggest the dark coating is working.  Elevations were 58 deg and 53 deg respective above azimuth 274 at a range of between 500 and 533km prior to shadow entry.  It is suggested that additional confirming observations be made and if the weather holds on, I will make such an attempt tomorrow.
Paul

Paul D. Maley 
https://pauldmaley.com
email: pdmaley_at_yahoo.com
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Received on Sat Feb 01 2020 - 23:24:08 UTC

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