This software, "Satellite identification program for astrometrists" could be of use to folks who (might) put positional observations into the Minor Planet Center format: http://www.projectpluto.com/sat_id.htm Note that there's a link to the source code. (I wonder if it includes a couple of SGP4 corrections discussed here a few years ago.) The site mentions Ted Molczan's program IDSat. Regarding the item that crashed through the roof of a house in Ohio, I had intended to mention that the site is not far from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, FWIW. As to any photos of the object, apparently neither the finders nor the Dayton newspaper got one before the object was impounded by the local police. I guess I think that this object is probably something internal to a jet engine where high temperature is normal, although I tend to believe that at least some some artificial space debris objects could do similar damage. How many objects that we launch into space are so dense? What is the terminal velocity of an object like Ted estimates, at 300 meters above sea level? What would its momentum be? (I'm mathematically challenged.) I have a polished brass cube that's 5cm (2 inches) on a side and weighs 2kg, and it seems to me it would pack a significant wallop if it fell very far. Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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