At 11:08 14/07/02 +0100, you wrote: >Below is a report of a flare, much too slow to be an Iridium. >I first thought it might be a Molniya (one Molniya rocket >78095E = catalog 11079 is close), >but I do not believe a Molniya could flare this bright. >Possibly a secret US satellite? >Plymouth is approx 4degW 50.5N. >---------------------------------------- >BAA electronic circular No. 00052 http://www.britastro.org/ >====================================================================== > > >UNUSUAL FLARE IN CASSIOPEIA > >The Association has received a report from a Mr C.E.R. Brook of Plymouth >of an unusual flare in Cassiopeia. Mr Brook observed a bright object, >several times as bright as the planet Venus, which flared up in the >constellation of Cassiopeia in the position of, or near to, the star Alpha >Cassiopeiae at 22 hrs 32 mins UT on 26 June 2002. Mr Brook apparently >had the object in view for about a minute, before it faded rapidly from >view, and it showed no sign of movement while visible. It was already bright >when Mr Brook first spotted the object. > >The report was initially sent to Variable Star Section Director, Roger >Pickard, while he was away on holiday, which is the reason for the delay >in making this announcement. > >Any other reports of this object should be sent to: > >Dr John Mason, British Astronomical Association, >51 Orchard Way, Barnham, West Sussex PO22 0HX > >Email: docjohn@dircon.co.uk I determine that this object was indeed an Iridium (iridium 61, to be exact) Iridium 61 4.0 1.8 0.0 6.5 d 8.0 780 x 776 km 1 25263U 98018B 02177.47365452 -.00000017 00000-0 -13243-4 0 7363 2 25263 86.3962 84.4802 0002657 71.0159 289.1323 14.34217508222888 The date is erroneously reported as Jun26, when it was in fact June 25. It flared to -6 in cassiopeia at position 01:10hrs +56. It was not stationary, but in 16 seconds moved from 01:22 hrs, +56 to 00:57 hrs, +56. Best wishes, Russell Eberst 55.9486N, 3.1383W, 150 feet = 46 metres above MSL ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Tue Jul 16 2002 - 13:48:43 EDT