A Worthy Farewell - A Mir Flare

From: Cees Bassa (c.g.bassa@phys.uu.nl)
Date: Tue Mar 06 2001 - 12:05:01 PST

  • Next message: Ulrich Beinert: "RE: A Worthy Farewell - A Mir Flare"

    Hoi List,
    
    Finally the weather cooperated for one evening and I was able to view
    probably my last pass of Mir since bad weather is expected for tomorrow.
    
    It was a nice high pass, 78°, some 30 minutes after sunset. Venus, Jupiter and
    Saturn were visible at that time and my mom spotted Mir first, some 50° high in
    the west. Brightness was about -1 at that time, increasing to -2 or so near
    culmination. Culmination occured at 17:54:44 UTC and around this time there 
    was a
    5 second flare to a magnitude of -4, -5, equalling the brightness of Venus.
    
    I was quite astonished by the velocity at which Mir crossed my sky. I have 
    never
    seen a satellite travelling that fast with respect to the stars. Quite a sight.
    
    All in all a worthy farewell of this famous satellite. Rest in Peace Mir.
    
    Regards,
    	Cees Bassa
    
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