I observed the Apollo 12 3rd stage (69099B = #04226) and its fuel dump on 19691114 from 2042 to 2056UT. Some of the time only the fuel was visible. At 2043 the rocket was flashing max mag 8, period 2.5s. The range was 29000 km. I do not have RA/dec at 2043, but it would only move a few degrees until 2057 when RA=20:09 Dec=8.6 (epoch 1950). At 2055 it was flashing max mag 9. Site = COSPAR 2428 = 51.3136N -0.7417E. The sun would then be about RA=1522 Dec=-19, about 76 degrees away. Using Robert Matson's formula, Phase factor = 0.65 Standard mag = 8 + 15 - 2.5*log10(29000^2/0.65) = 8+15-22.8 = 0.2 . Did anyone else see 69099B? Footnote: shiny spheres have no phase factor. Shiny cylinders will have some phase factor, but I believe the effect will be less than the formula above. Footnote 2: I also saw the fule dumps from Apollo 8 & 10, but not the rockets. I am sure other European observers saw Apollo 8. Mike Waterman mike.waterman@marconi.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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