Yesterday, Alan Pickup posted ... > Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 18:41:29 +0100 > To: SeeSat-L <SeeSat-L@blackadder.lmsal.com> > From: Alan Pickup <alan@wingar.demon.co.uk> > Subject: Decay watch: #25486 = Molniya rocket > > OIG has been down for the past day, so the only update on this decaying > rocket comes from Ron Lee's observation at 00:50 UTC today. He observed > it about 4 seconds late on the evolution I posted yesterday. I have > factored this into a new prediction for decay at October 13.8 +-0.6 day. > > My updated evolution: > Moln 1T? Moln r1 249 x 179 km > 1 25486U 98054B 98285.01895593 .03158054 44274-2 99212-3 0 90561 > 2 25486 62.8069 261.6445 0052859 135.0614 225.3676 16.22034903 2097 > Moln 1T? Moln r1 234 x 175 km > 1 25486U 98054B 98285.51162580 .04035189 79463-2 10033-2 0 90564 > 2 25486 62.8058 259.6416 0045012 135.1584 225.2062 16.25536516 2177 > Moln 1T? Moln r1 215 x 169 km > 1 25486U 98054B 98286.00307000 .05883640 19620-1 10205-2 0 90560 > 2 25486 62.8042 257.6321 0035495 135.2559 225.0310 16.30272039 2256 > Using the first TLE set above (for epoch 98285.01895593), and Skymap, I observed this object approximately 8 seconds LATE. At 23:11:08 +/- 2s UTC 1998 Oct 11 (or 98284.96606) it passed Megrez=Delta UMa vs the predicted time 23:11:00. Incidentally, it was varying with roughly a two second period and at brightest was almost as bright as Alioth=Epsilon Uma. Clear and dark skies! Ed Light Lakewood, NJ, USA N 40.1072, W 074.2317, Hgt +21 m (69 ft)