Decay Watch: Molniya 3-16
Ron Lee (ronlee@pcisys.net)
Fri, 23 Jan 1998 21:56:05 -0700
Noticed from Alan's Select.tle that the mean motion for Molniya 3-16
is over 3 now. See below:
Molniya 3-16 26192 x 69 km
1 12512U 81054A 98023.91000000 .00001534 -99657-5 00000-0 0 391
2 12512 62.1530 93.5650 6695287 272.3010 102.7930 3.18642047123414
So I decided to look for it. I observed it at RA 8:59.4, DEC 38:30 N at
04:24:03.9 UT on 24 Jan 98. This was about 10 seconds early. Magnitude
about 9.3 (Coordinates J2000). Used an 8" telescope.
The perigee is rather low. Wonder if it shows signs of atmospheric
heating during perigee passages?
Ron Lee