On July 14 at 23:30 UTC, observing at Malma, site 5919, I happened to see a brilliantly flaring satellite slowly descending in the SSE. I estimated the magnitude as about -5, and it stayed negative for almost two minutes, despite the low altitude and long range. 90309 04 696A 5919 P 20040714233016000 57 25 2141000+094800 68 S-030 15 90309 04 696A 5919 P 20040714233100000 17 25 2153000+031200 39 S 90309 04 696A 5919 P 20040715230746000 17 25 2158000-005100 19 S+010 15 90309 04 696A 5919 P 20040715230826000 17 25 2207000-070000 39 S What these numbers mean: http://www.satobs.org/position/IODformat.html Ted suggested a lost, decaying Cosmos in a Molniya-type orbit. I tried to extrapolate its elements, and adjust it to fit roughly (ELCOR wouldn't converge to a reasonable elset) COSMOS 1030 4873 x 103 1 11015U 78083A 04196.63800000 .06295901 10000-2 10000-2 0 8880 2 11015 62.1762 159.0319 2690000 200.3045 136.9991 10.16000000090489 (ndot2 is a pure guess, so it may be +- 40 min in error ?) but it descends about 20 degrees too far south, and not steep enough I estimated its DIR of motion as 185-190 degrees near eps Peg. I can't try to see it again tonight, because I am clouded out. /Björn -- COSPAR 5919, MALMA, 59.2576 N, 18.6172 E, 23 m -- -- COSPAR 5918, HAMMARBY, 59.2985 N, 18.1045 E, 44 m -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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