RE: unknown
Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
Wed, 25 Oct 1995 08:59:41 +0100
>Return-Path: molczan@neocom.ca
>From: Ted Molczan <molczan@neocom.ca>
>To: "'Tristan Cools'" <tcools@nic.INbe.net>
>Subject: RE: unknown
>Date: Sun, 22 Oct 1995 17:55:10 -0400
>
>The unknown you saw is ERBS, one of the reddest satellites I have
>observed, and readily visible to the unaided eye under favourable
>circumstances. In this case, the circumstances were not particularly
>favourable, so I am surprised it reached magnitude 3. An ephemeris of
>the pass you observed follows the elset.
>
>
>ERBS 4.4 1.5 0.0 6.6
>1 15354U 84108 B 95292.05667138 .00000097 00000-0 88007-5 0 1370
>2 15354 56.9957 265.9358 0008752 126.5912 233.5927 14.94902088600638
>
>
>21/10/95 17:18 - 05:50 ST J2000.0 EL > 15 Bruges Belgium
>ERBS 84108B 15354 Bull = 137 Tristan Cools
>SGP4 Age = 2.8 d Unc = 0 s ( 25%)
>
> TIME %I Mv AZ EL R.A. DEC FE VANG RANGE ALT
>-------- -- ---- --- -- ----- ----- -- ---- ----- -----
>19:27:19 13 9.1 272 14 16:12 13.1 7 0.15 1619 586
>19:28:10 16 8.4 279 21 16:12 21.9 7 0.21 1320 586
>19:28:46 20 7.8 285 27 16:11 30.3 8 0.28 1128 586
>19:29:13 24 7.4 292 32 16:09 38.4 8 0.34 1001 586
>19:29:35 28 7.0 300 36 16:05 46.4 8 0.41 913 586
>19:29:53 33 6.7 309 40 15:59 53.9 8 0.47 854 586
>19:30:09 38 6.4 318 43 15:50 61.4 8 0.51 815 586
>19:30:24 ES 43 6.2 329 45 15:33 68.8 9 0.54 790 586
>
>Note that the "ES" at the final position means "enters shadow".
>The ephemeris generator I use computes this as the approximate
>mid-point within the penumbra, so the object would have been
>visible for a few seconds later than "ES".
>
>Incidentally, if you can find a colour photograph of ERBS, you
>will see why it so red - it is covered almost completely with
>what looks like a gold kapton thermal blanket. It was deployed
>on a space shuttle mission, and I have a photograph taken with
>the object being held by the remote manipulator, prior to
>deployment. Of course, this is also a strong clue as to the
>cause of the redness of the Lacrosse satellites.
>
>Clear skies!
>
Forwarded from Ted Molczan, I thought it was interesting to put his personal
mail to Seesat-L. Thanks to everyone who tried to identify it ! (you all
were right on target with identifying it as ERBS !)
As Ted Molczan puts it I was surprised to have a very bright transit of ERBS.
Although in low orbit a pass from W->N is not so favourable at the time of
the observation. Is it still working or is it out of order ?
Tristan Cools(tcools@nic.INbe.net)