Observations early 005/21/99 UTC

Edward S Light (light@argoscomp.com)
Fri, 21 May 1999 09:01:26 -0400 (EDT)

Last evening (EDT, early 1999 May 21 UTC) we tried to see the 99-026
objects but until we went inside at about 21:50 EDT (5/21 01:50 UTC), we
were only able to see one of them:
  25735 = 99-026A ("TERRIERS ?") at 01:46.0 UTC at 7th magnitude,
    55 degs high in the East (with 7x50 and 10x50 binoculars)

We also saw:
  25733 = 99-025D ("Fengyun 1X CSL-04 deb") at 01:03.9 UTC at V=3.5
    near delta UMa, and,
  25730 = 99-025A ("Fengyun 1C") at 01:05.6 UTC at V=5.3 near beta Leo.

An unexpected surprise was the very fast moving brilliant 25376 = 98-039A
("Cosmos 2359") at 01:23-01:24 UTC moving from near alpha UMi to below Bootes
and rivalling Arcturus (V=-0.05) in maximum brightness.

----

Unfortunately, the moon is getting in the way again (although from here and
points West, a nice occultation of Regulus is due late tonight/early
Saturday local time.)


Clear and dark skies!
   Ed Light

Lakewood, NJ, USA
N 40.1072, W 074.2317, Hgt +21 m (69 ft)