flare from unknown satellite

Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:35:27 +0100 (MET)

Hello,

Could someone identify this one ?

Yesterday Jan 26 at 18:49:58UTC I saw a flare from an unknown satellite, mag
+2 for approximately 4s close to Betelgeuse(alpha Ori).
I couldn't keep track of the satellite because it disappeared.  It went
through the constellation of Orion between Betelgeuse and Bellatrix(gamma
Ori) but much closer to Betelgeuse and going down the constellation.
Location was at Rijckevelde.(see below)
I couldn't find a match in the Molczan or Elem file.

Thanks for any help,


Tristan Cools
tcools@nic.INbe.net
BWGS Member - Belgian Working Group Satellites

Observing at:

Damse Vaart: 3.2486E/51.2279N
Rijckevelde: 3.2867E/51.2054N
Brugge:      3.1611E/51.2108N