Re: Possible observation of USA 116

From: Jim McManus (jimmcmanus@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Fri Jan 19 2001 - 07:14:45 PST

  • Next message: Sven Grahn: "Swedish Odin satellite arrives at Svobodny for launch"

    Hi All,
    
    Here's a more detailed report as promised.
    
    Using predictions generated from the search elsets #70013, #70061, #70062
    and #70063 provided by Bjoern Gimle. I searched from 15:00 UT, low on the
    southern horizon. At around 15h 13m UT I observed an object slightly above
    and west of Pavo, climbing towards Octans and running parallel to a line
    between Nu & Beta Octantis. Track was roughly towards Lambda Oct. although
    the object faded before reaching it. The observation was made as the object
    passed (at nearly 90 deg.) through a pair of stars (mag 7.2 & 7.5) approx 2
    deg. before Lambda Oct. The object started fading a second or so before
    this.
    
    In short the track looked very close to that expected for USA 116.
    Otherwise it was similar to observations of USA 129. My impression was that
    it was a little fast, perhaps because I was taken by surprise when it
    appeared.
    
    Bjoern emailed some plots from Skymap showing other tracks about that time.
    The only track that is close to what I saw (very close actually) is that of
    Cosmos 418 (05217). It was running in the opposite direction  so I can rule
    it out.
    
    I haven't submitted in IOD form before - so if it's wrong let me know.
    
    23728 95 066A   9127 F 20010118151302580 27 35 2111938-805274 16 S+070 05
    
    Cheers
    
    Jim
    
    COSPAR site # 9127 Lat 27.591S Long 153.050E Alt 19 m
    
    
    
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe'
    in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org
    http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jan 19 2001 - 07:16:47 PST