Re: Pegsat decay and other obs

Mir16609@aol.com
Fri, 13 Nov 1998 21:45:54 EST

In a message dated 11/13/98 9:16:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,
dan.deak@sympatico.ca writes:

> 
>       Will be watching for Pegsat on saturday morning since the latest
>  elsets given by Alan bring it in a very favourable position from my
>  location only 3 hours after predicted reentry ( 05:20 Local time).

Since my location is in the same *gereral* part of the globe I'll point out
other things that may be visible on North America's East Coast that may
convince some folks to wake up a bit early.

First, as mentioned, Pegsat may be visible if it has not decayed.   For the
Baltimore-Washington area the latest elset:
Pegsat
1 20546U 90028A   98317.93790787  .12108034  83530-6  74700-3 0  5445
2 20546  94.0628 141.9289 0005297 226.6478 133.4095 16.41720334482011
shows Pegsat passing by Spica at 5:19 EST and entering the earth's shadow less
than a minute later under Arcturus.   This will be less than 10 deg above the
horizon.  Of course it may be toast by then.

There are 4 Iridium flares shortly after the Pegsat pass.  They will be
visible at 1x, if not spectacular:
      Local    Local     Iridium          Sun    Flare  Max Flare  Ir
Day   Date     Time    Azm El Rnge N I  Azm Elv Mag MMA  Bearing    # S
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat 98-11-14  5:25:02  063 10 1364 D L  100 -15   0  F  40.7 mi E  77  
Sat 98-11-14  5:25:46  062 12  999 D L  100 -15   1  F   173 mi W  79  
Sat 98-11-14  5:27:03  062 12 1363 D L  101 -15   1  F   180 mi W  39  
Sat 98-11-14  5:36:28  064 15 1242 D L  102 -13   3  F   283 mi W  80  

Finally, the Mir will make a visible pass beginning at 5:40 EST in Casseopia
It will be just above Polaris at 5:41:00 EST.  

1. Be sure to run the predictions for your particular location.
2. Clouds may be rolling in from the west.

Cheers
Don Gardner
Homepage: http://hometown.aol.com/mir16609/
76.8419 W, 39.1796 N,  34m ASL