Re: Unknown in Taurus
Brian Hunter (bkh@chem.QueensU.CA)
Thu, 27 Mar 1997 12:39:22 -0500
A possible candidate for your sighting is 78 42A DMSP B5D1-3 (Norad
10820).
It is an early Defence Meteorlogical Satellite. My logs are at home but I
have seen very bright glints off other members of this family of
satellites. I think I've seen this one brighten but I'm not sure.
Cheers,
Brian
Brian K. Hunter, Department of Chemistry
Professor Queen's University
bkh@chem.queensu.ca Kingston, Ontario
(613)-545-2620 Canada K7L 4R6
Chopped message below:
> Date/time: 3/27/97 at 0053 UTC (3/26/97 at 1953 EST)
> Observer Location: 35 deg 02' 46.3"N/83 deg 56' 28"W at 502 meters alt
> Location: About one degree south of Beta Taurus (El Nath).
> Apparent Magnitude: 0 or more
>
> Narrative: I saw this object brighten very suddenly (yellow-gold color)
> about 1 degree south of Beta Taurus. It looked nearly round and was as
> bright or brighter than Venus.
> It appeared to me to be moving in a southerly direction . I only saw it
for
> about a second or so and it appeared to only move about 1/2 degree across
> the sky, then it was gone.
> Larry Van Horn
> Managing Editor
> Satellite Times magazine
>
> E-mail address: steditor@grove.net;