Noss and other observations
Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
Mon, 10 Jun 1996 21:36:42 +0200 (MET DST)
Can someone tell me the right designations(COSPAR/NORAD/USA number) of the
two Noss ojects we are observing.(and Titan upper stage) Something has been
renamed by USSPACECOM. Object A doesn't have any USSPACECOM number anymore
and the rocket body has been changed into the G object. Things doesn't seem
clear right now.
However, I got two passage observations of the two NOSS objects(still call
them C and A) from last night, June 9.
Some positional measurements(epoch 2000)
RA Dec Time(UT)
96-29C 51h31m 27=B051' 21h51m46s
18h40m 46=B008' 21h53m15s
96-29A 15h33m 27=B012' 21h51m51s
18h50m 44=B044' 21h53m19s
Possible error: 10m' in direction, 1s in time.
Second object(A) had no convincing variations. Both objects were mag +4
My second observation one orbit later showed a much fainter A-object, almost
invisible with 7X50 binoculars. Estimated magnitude of C: mag +5; A: mag
max +7.5
Again C did not show any wild flash-behaviour.(maybe some slight variations)
During this passage I did three timings which showed they were were closing
in(due to fase effects ?) 4.12, 3.52 and 2.96s
96-29B(now G ??????) did show up low in the West. First FfF later FaF then
F'F' which was easier to measure. Flash period 4.01s
The nuclear Topaz reactor 87-60A/18187 was very difficult to measure.
Although bright, mag +2.5, it had a very small flash-amplitude, something
wich has been experienced before with 87-11A/17369. Flash period 7.8s
When trying to observe 93-61A/22823/Spot 3 I found two objects which were
exactly in the same plane/orbit as I saw it. Later on I determined that the
leading object was 91-50A/21574/ERS 1 followed by Spot 3. They were only
seperated by approx. 2 degrees.
Greetings,
Tristan Cools
tcools@nic.INbe.net
51.13N 3.16E