Re: Question from a new-comer

Björn Gimle (b_gimle@algonet.se)
Wed, 2 Jun 1999 07:57:45 +0200

Jay wrote:
...
> how to observe them.  The only thing I would add is that there are a few sync
> sats that occasionally flash bright enough to be seen in binoculars.  Obviously,
> those are easier to see than the faint ones that need a scope.
> 
Depending on the orientation of the observer-satellite-Sun lines and the spin axis, they may flash brightly over a short or long interval/area.

Thanks to visibility notes posted on this list, I was able to find Gorizont 23 as my first geosynch (in 7*50 binoculars and a light blue nordic sky).

Due to the orientation (??, or the lack of reference stars?) it often took me 4-15 minutes to find the satellite, but then it was easy to see any flash for up to more than an hour.

A site with a list of flashing geosyncs (TLEs) was aannounced here a few weeks ago :
http://www.adelaide.net.au/~starman (by Tony Beresford)


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