Observations USA 116+Molniya 3-49 r1

Bjoern Gimle (b_gimle@algonet.se)
Fri, 10 Jul 1998 09:23:45 +0200

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 

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