CmdrJaycee@aol.com wrote: > > In Jim Varney's 7/16 comments on this topic, he noted: > > >>>>>I also saw Cosmos 1900 glint in the west and northwest. A few days ago I > watched USA 81 show what must have been 10 small glints in a half-second (it > looked like an arcing electrical connection), also in the west. Notice that > all three of these objects are payloads<<<<<. > > Ted Molczan picked up on something else, responding: > > >>>>>The two kh-11s I have observed in the early (western) orbital plane > (84122A and 88099A), both exhibited bright glints and flare-ups for a few > seconds at about azimuth 300 deg, and elevation 50 deg, so they fit this > pattern too. Too bad they are no longer in orbit.<<<<< > > Having observed USA 81 (thanks to Walter Nissen's list, which I've come to > treat as an ongoing homework assignment), I agree with Jim Varney that it > seems to reach a point high in its northern path where it becomes, as I > jotted down in my notes, a "sparkler." Though I did not see the the two > kh-11 satellites Ted noted, at least as far as MOS 1, USA 81 and Cosmos 1900 > go, in addition to being payloads, they all also travel from south to north > (if that means anything). > > USA 81's sparkles certainly appear like one might see in reflections off a > mirrored globe. However, with MOS 1's and Cosmos 1900's pinpoint flashes, > assuming they have solar panels aligned to face the sun, we might be seeing > glints off their rear ends (giving new meaning to the word "flasher;" a more > fitting term in their case might be "mooner"). In any event, perhaps these > mid-northern elevations (either sky, latitude, or both) where these glints > and sparkles seem to occur represent a zone of "peculiar geometry," using > Walter Nissen's phrase. > > Also as Walter noted, "At first I might have confused them (pinpoint flashes) > with the momentary reflections of lights, familiar to every wearer of > glasses, when moving > the head. But over time I saw a few which definitely had no explanation > other than a momentary light from the sky." My experience has been very > similar - I too wear glasses and had come to dismiss most of the transient > sky flashes I have seen since becoming a regular satellite spotter as being > reflections due to my glasses - or even high flying fireflies. But, like > Walter, there have been a number of such flashes for which these explanations > did not seem to apply to. And (a purely subjective observation on my part) > most of these, if not all, seemed to occur in the northern sky (again, for > those who may have missed my previous post, I live in the Washington DC > suburbs). > > In response to Jim Varney's request that "if (I) see any other satellites > with "weird" behavior, be sure and share it with us." > > Again, as a newcomer to SeeSat, and starting off by concentrating on > "shooting fish in a barrel," one of the problems is not knowing when to point > out to the veterans that out one of those fish you've been eying is a > cealocanth (sp?). You can be assured, Jim, if I spot another "weird" one, > I'll let everyone know. ;-) > > Lastly, thanks, Jim, for the "welcome" to the list. Unfortunately, like many > new arrivals to a gathering, let me quickly wear out my welcome a bit by > immediately asking for a favor ;-). > > I too was out observing MOS 1 last night and saw something I have never seen > before. During its pass over my yard (39N, 77W; mid-pass occurring > approximately 10:28:30 p.m. EDT, 7/16) I noticed MOS 1 had brought along a > friend. During its entire pass, there was a second satellite no more than > two or three degrees to its west (both satellites easily fitting in the same > binocular field), on an almost precisely parallel path, matching MOS 1's > speed exactly (this second unidentified satellite may have won by a nose at > the end). It was much like watching a NOSS triangle, with one bird missing. > This second satellite was like a shadow, being, oh, two magnitudes or so > fainter than MOS 1 (I could not see it naked-eye, though sky conditions were > not great last night). It also evidenced a similar glinting pattern to MOS > 1's, though once again these were proportionally dimmer. I'm curious if > anyone else saw these two pass last night as well? > > I checked to try to identify the second satellite using the Skychart 2000 > planetarium program and displaying the satellites in Ted Molczan's 6/27 > element list, but found nothing coming anywhere close MOS 1's vicinity at the > time. Could I ask you, Jim, with your 1300+ satellite list (or anyone else > wishing to help out for that matter) to see if you can ID this second bird > for me? (Thanks - it's appreciated ;-) > > - Jim Cook (CmdrJaycee@aol.com) Hello Jim, Helped by the Mike McCants "alldat.tle" elsets file (7000+ objects), I found only 1 object to be, I think, the one you're searching for. It's KFengYun 1B Pc (#20847, 1990- 81K), a debris of the launcher CZ-4 (launched the Sept 3 1990). It was, like you said, in a very near parallel path with MOS 1 in that time. And the CZ-4 DEB is faster just like you said, it won the race! Luc Fontaine lfontain@quebectel.com Sts-Anges, PQ Canada