Re: Decay space debris ID over S'pore 5/20
cyk (chiayk@singnet.com.sg)
Sat, 23 May 1998 16:43:50 +0800
Hi Alan and Others that response:
Thanks for the input:
Here is my obervations and help me to id this object.
Can you tell me how to check whether there is any space junk/satellite
re-entries that was happening which might correspond to the 'unusually' slow
'meteor' that had broken up into 2 fragements. The luminois trails were
reddish-orange in color and spikes are seen ( like holding a metal against a
turining glinding wheel). Velocity is slower compare to the ' normal ' meteor.
The in 3 projectiles the outline of the solid-like heads are clearly seen..
This occured on 5/20/98 Singapore local time 7:34pm. Not sure how to convert to
UTC but we are +8 hrs ahead of GMT. General direction is event begin just
below the 'False Cross' in Constellation of Carina towards Southern Cross -
Cruex My latitude is 1 degree 27N and 103 Degree 30' E. The event occurs ~20
degree staring SW to S direction in a shallow angle inclination of ~20 degree
down. The event lasts ~5-8 seconds. No sonic boom was heard and no train
observed.(did have my bino ready to check).
Alan Pickup wrote:
> YK Chia <chiayk@singnet.com.sg> asks
>
> > Can anyone out there tell me how to report re-entry phenomena and
> >how to get help to identifywhich object is involved.
>
> Keep in mind that the vast majority of bright fireballs are meteors and
> not re-entries. Some organisations collect observations of such events;
> for example, here in the UK the British Astronomical Association
> requests that observers submit their reports to Howard Miles, Lane Park,
> Pityme, St Minver, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6PN. There are probably
> other centres worldwide - can other SeeSaters provide addresses?
>
> If you post your observation(s) here on SeeSat, I (and others, I assume)
> would be happy to help in identifying any potential re-entry. The sort
> of information we'd like is:
>
> o Your location (latitude and longitude and/or name of town etc);
> o Date and time of observation (specify the time zone and provide
> a UTC time if you can make the conversion);
> o As much info about location and track in the sky as possible!
> Altitude (degrees) and direction when first and last seen. How
> long in seconds was the event visible? If seen at night, are
> you able to describe the track with respect to the stars and
> constellations? How did the angular speed compare with meteors
> and satellites you have seen?
> o Appearance, eg single luminous object, or several in train?
> Colour? Brightness?
> o Were any sounds heard? When, relative to the time of the visible
> object.
>
> > What about TLE for decayed satellite on the day of predicted
> >reentry?
>
> NASA's Orbital Information Group (OIG) publish the latest elsets for all
> unclassified (non-secret) objects. For objects close to decay, I compile
> these into my dklist.tle file which is updated several times daily and
> is available via my WWW page below. However, you can query OIG yourself
> for the final published elsets for recent decayers. Log in and register
> with OIG at
> http://oigsysop.atsc.allied.com/scripts/foxweb.dll/app01?
> One of the pages they offer is "Satellite Catalog Action Report". select
> this and under "Data type" check "Header and TLE". This page will
> include the final elsets for recently decayed elsets. Since these may be
> hours before the actual re-entry, you may wish to use my SatEvo program
> to project the elset forwards in time, closer to the re-entry. Be
> warned, though, that a good idea of the actual decay time usually
> requires an analysis based on several elsets over the final day or two.
>
> Alan
> --
> Alan Pickup | COSPAR site 2707: 55d53m48.7s N 3d11m51.2s W 156m asl
> Edinburgh | Home: alan@wingar.demon.co.uk +44 (0)131 477 9144
> Scotland | SatEvo satellite page: http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/