Here is a post that might help. Bottom line is near local midnight, ie when the RA of the satellite is opposite the sun. (My guess). I suspect that there are two times each year around each equinox. Last year Rainer Kresken posted info on seeing GEOSATS flaring just prior to Earth shadow entry. The link is below: http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/Sep-1999/0002.html The dates as a function of latitude are below and we are approaching that time for the northern hemisphere. latitude optimum date (Day/month) -80 01/09 -60 04/09 -40 09/09 -20 15/09 0 23/09 +20 30/09 +40 07/10 +60 12/10 +80 15/10 I am at +39 degrees and saw several in binoculars on 6 Oct 99 and 27 in an 8" telescope on 12 Oct 99 so you do have some time around each of his dates. Reference my previous posts: http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/Oct-1999/0054.html http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/Oct-1999/0161.html Ron Lee >Following on from kevin's comments , and apologies if this has already been >covered (couldn't find anything in a quick scan of the archives ).... does >geosat mag vary through the evening ..ie is there an optimum viewing time >"x" hours after local sunset ? > >Sorry if this seems a dumb question , however I am attempting to get a >visual on european clusters , using a 6 inch reflector , and as the mag of >the birds is around plus 10/12 I'll be working within very tight margins. > >Many thanks. > >John. > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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
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