I failed to see Feng Yun 1D Rk (27432). It was a low-altitude pass, so perhaps that explains why. This time, I was able to see the USA 160 C, A duo (in order of flight) ! They were predicted to be at magnitude +5.6, but it was more like +3 or +4 when I sighted them almost directly overhead. Their TLE's predict that they are slightly less than 7 seconds apart. I was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Since I was able to get both satellites quite easily into one field, and they both move in the exact same direction, it is disorienting at first. As they moved north, I thought that they were the fixed stars, and that they were really moving south (I knew something was moving, but it took a couple of seconds to identify what was moving). I shifted my binoculars south, but no objects followed. I moved north, and there they were, in all their glory. I was about to time the distance, when I heard what sounded like an angry bee buzzing near my ear. Considering I was stung by an agitated bee twice only three days ago, I did not waste any time in putting the binoculars down, and taking a few steps into the grass. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the satellites again, which were invisble to my truly naked eyes (i.e., no glasses). They are a really great pair to see. Seeing two satellites at once is 10x better than seeing two satellites separately. Those who have seen the ISS and the Space Shuttle Orbiter in the same glance can identify with this. Speaking of the Space Shuttle, the fleet has been grounded until at least September. NASA says that the order of flights will not be affected - at least, not yet. --------------------------------------------------------- Jonathan T. Wojack tlj18@juno.com 39.706d N 75.683d W 4 hours behind UT (-4) ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jul 12 2002 - 23:38:09 EDT