Despite our light skies, I observed USA 116 1998-07-08 22:04:58.6 UT RA=23.115 decl=+25.60 and Molniya 3-49 r1: 1998-07-08 22:10:09.7 12.65 56.5 Both had interesting light curves, from about 22:04:45 to 05:10 USA 116 started with a gradual brightening to +1, faded to +3, short glint at -2 and another at -3 (?) about ten seconds later. For Molniya r1, I timed 27 minima (because they were most clearly visible in the NNW) over 53.9 seconds. Toward NE, maxima became brighter and sharper, and it was apparent from both time intervals and magnitude that there were two maxima and minima per period. Computer graphic analysis of the observations verified this, with a period of 2.54 seconds, and the secondary mimima 1.6 seconds after the primary. I did not see 40C within +/- 2 min, despite 7*50 binoculars USA 116 was only 9.8 seconds early from : 1 23728U 95 66 A 98181.99174629 .00022000 00000-0 19495-3 0 00 2 23728 97.9191 294.2134 0537504 5.1272 354.8727 14.78278277 05 Molniya 3-49 r1 only 8 seconds early from: 1 25380U 98040B 98188.41237139 .00868369 81147-5 85298-3 0 276 2 25380 62.7612 216.2388 0101271 135.4561 225.4793 16.00928815 1026 1 25381U 98040C 98188.42475383 .01964776 00000-0 83185-3 0 270 2 25381 62.7915 216.2355 0140061 126.0246 235.4972 16.03343951 1028 --------------------------------------------------------------- -- bjorn.gimle@tieto.com (office) b_gimle@algonet.se (home) -- -- 59.2237N, 18.2286E, 44 m http://www.algonet.se/~b_gimle -- -- SeeSat-L / Visual Satellite Observer Home Page found at -- -- http://www.satellite.eu.org/satintro.html -- ---------------------------------------------------------------