Observations Mon. Evening July 13

Robert Sheaffer (sheaffer@netcom.com)
Tue, 14 Jul 1998 08:14:54 -0700

Observations Monday Evening, July 13, 1998 (14 July UT)

 04:47     Culmination of GPS 2-19 rk (22583), elev. 65 deg. Steady at
           Mag 2 near culmination, but magnitude falls off sharply before
           and after.

 04:50     Culmination of Cosmos 1077 rk (11269), elev 89 deg, Mag 3.5.

 05:00:22  Appulse of tumbling Mag 3 eastbound satellite believed to be LACE 
           (20496) with Vega. Predicted mag only 5.3. Apparently about 30 
           secs slow on elset of 98189.165.

 05:13:46  Appulse of Lacrosse 3 with Altair, just as predicted by elset
           of 98187.024. Reached Mag 2 in spite of low elevation of 30 deg.


A general observation: the satellites coming out of the shadow are seen
before SKYMAP says they'll be visible. Apparently they're visible in
"twilight" 20 seconds or so before they come out into full sunlight.

                 my GPS tells me I'm at 37 deg 17.3' N.,
                   121 deg 59.2' west (San Jose, CA)



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