Re: TiPS observation report

Luc Fontaine (lfontain@quebectel.com)
Thu, 18 Jul 1996 00:53:29 -0400

Ted Molczan wrote:
> 
> I observed TiPS on 18 Jul 96 at about 02:11 UTC. It was
> about 2 seconds early, and on course, relative Rainer's
> day 96191 elset.
> 
> I observed using mounted 11x80 binoculars from:
> 
> 43.68767 N
> 79.39267 W
> 215.5 m elevation
> 
> The tether appeared to be oriented along the direction of motion.
> The leading end-mass glinted occasionally.
> 
> The observations of the leading end-mass were:
> 
> Object     date         time          RA        DEC     Epoch
> 96029?  1996 07 18   02 11 39.4    18 52.00   -09 41.0  2000.0
> 96029?  1996 07 18   02 12 04.9    18 58.33   -13 00.0  2000.0
> 
> I estimate the positional accuracy of the first obs at 0.02 deg;
> the second at 0.03 deg. The time accuracy was about 0.1 s for both.
> 
> This was my first ever tether observation. Very impressive sight!
> 
> Ted Molczan

I saw TiPS for the first time either during the same pass but it was on
my WSW at 02:07:30 UTC (18 July) and it was a superb observation. The
tether was perpendicular to the Earth. And like Ted said, when the
object was SSW at about 70 degres elev, the low-end glinted by moments.
With my 21x50 bino, the tether appeared not clearly defined, but like a
sat passing over a humid sky or a tiny cirrus cloud.

Also, I observed MOS 1 and it was another superb sight. It was 17
minutes after the TiPS pass, at 02:24:30 UTC. Sometimes MOS 1 is
flashing with variable period from invisible to mag 4.0 to 4.5 and at
other moments, at north (from 60 to 20 deg elev) , it flashes from
invisible to super brillance for just a fraction of second in a
magnitude of about -2.0 or brighter.

I saw during 2 hours of observations, 25 or 26 objects with 2 or 3 non
identified at the moment. The sky was very clear and low humidity. I am
in the country with no city lights, 1250 feet above the ocean and when
the conditions are good, the sky is superb.

Luc Fontaine
lfontain@quebectel.com
46.4077778N
70.8638889W
1250 feet
Sts-Anges, PQ
Canada