Re: New Zenit upper stage - probable fast flasher

From: Edward S Light (light@argoscomp.com)
Date: Tue Jun 22 2004 - 06:44:43 EDT

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    Yesterday, Ed Cannon noted:
    >
    > There's a report on sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe of the new
    > Zenit (04-021B, 28353) flashing twice per second.
    >
    
    This morning, though, on a low pass in the east (altitude 34deg, azim
    099), it seemed quite steady as it passed by gamma Peg (mag 2.83) and
    it looked about the same brightness as that star.  I imagine the
    geometry of that pass (2004 Jun 22/07:17 UTC) suppressed the flashing;
    I'll have to try when it's in a different part of the sky.
    
    Despite ever-increasing clouds, I had no trouble seeing 28350=04-020A,
    the recently launched Cosmos 2405, as it zipped throught Cygnus at
    steady apparent magnitudes between 0 and 1 (i.e. like Vega or Altair).
    This was at 07:34 UTC high in the SW.
    
    Clear and dark skies!
       Ed Light
    
    Lakewood, NJ, USA
    N 40.1075, W 074.2312, +24 m (80 ft)
    
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