Iridium, thanks

Walter Nissen (dk058@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Mon, 12 Oct 1998 09:03:16 -0400 (EDT)

Since my last message about the status of the Iridial constellation, there 
have been a number of developments. 
 
Ir P12? 48 has begun moving within its plane, breaking down the regular 
undecagon (11-sided polygon) in that plane. 
Perhaps Ir P1B? 69 will replace it?? 
 
Ir P? B 79 has begun precessing out of its initial plane (P5). 
Perhaps it will become Ir P45R 79, replacing the also moving Ir P45? 14?? 
 
Ir P5?  80 has apparently assumed its station as Ir P51  80; ditto for 
Ir P54  81. 
 
The linkage between nomenclature of the successive planes which I proposed 
has begun to shift and break down.  E.g., instead of following P00, P10 
now precedes her.  Here is an important question:  Is this merely a 
growing pain, or is it likely to be a persistent problem?  If the latter, 
there are 2 possible consequences, both serious in nature.  The linkage 
could be abandoned.  Or what I proposed as a nomenclature becomes to some 
extent merely a description, to be updated from time to time as the 
undecagons spin around out of sync.  Regardless, the usefulness of having 
the P-numbers in the name field is very high for visual observers. 
 
I've begun moving a blank, writing, e.g., Ir P0 B 75 instead of 
Ir P0B  75.  In this way, the B, S, T, and U objects, which have oddball 
orbital periods, immediately stand out in lists such as this edited 
QuickSat output: 
 
  41.374  81.864  840.    Nissen, OH            1950 17.5  1 F T F F F 
***  1998 Oct   8  *** Times are UT ***  2346 1041 
       H  M  S  AL AZI 
24905  7 23 20  75 267  Ir P10  24 
25106  7 32 28  61 268  Ir P11  47 
25108  7 50 45  41 271  Ir P13  49 
24903  7 59 51  34 273  Ir P14  26 
25431  8  8 30  28 274  Ir P15R  3 
24907  8 18  3  23 276  Ir P16  22 
24906  8 27  7  19 277  Ir P17  23 
25320  8 34 36  16 279  Ir P1 T 71 
25432  8 36 11  16 279  Ir P18  76 
24904  8 45 14  13 280  Ir P19  25 
25319  8 48 44  13 281  Ir P1B? 69 
25107  8 54  5   9 282  Ir P12? 48 
25104  8 54 16  10 282  Ir P1A  45 
25105  9  0 25   8 283  Ir P1 S 46 
24905  9  3 19   8 284  Ir P10  24 
 
For better or for worse, the R objects also stand out. 
 
Those who wish to ignore this slight change may do so freely, as it 
introduces no ambiguity. 
 
Thanks to Mike McCants for QuickSat and for insightful, helpful comments. 
 
Cheers. 
 
Walter Nissen                   dk058@cleveland.freenet.edu 
-81.8637, 41.3735, 256m elevation 
 
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\ Classic 
 \ American                               2632 
  \ Legend 
 
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The simplified table now appears as: 
 
P00  64     P10  24*    P20  32     P30   5     P40   9*    P50  39 
P01  65     P11  47     P21  33     P31   6     P41  10*    P51  80 
P02  66     P12? 48     P22  57     P32   7     P42  52     P52  17 
P03  67     P13  49     P23  58     P33   8     P43  12     P53  15 
P04  68     P14  26     P24  59     P34   4     P44  13     P54  81 
P05  74     P15R  3     P25  60     P35  35     P45? 14     P55  38 
P06  72     P16  22     P26  55     P36  61     P46  16     P56  41 
P07  73     P17  23     P27  28     P37  19     P47  53     P57  43 
P08  70     P18  76     P28  29     P38  34     P48  56     P58  18* 
P09  62     P19  25     P29  30     P39  37     P49  50     P59  42 
P0A  63     P1A  45     P2A  31     P3A  36     P4A  54     P5A  40 
 
P0 B 75                             P3 B 51                 P5B? 77 
                                                            P5C? 82 
            P1 S 46*    P2 S 27                 P4 S 11     P5 S 20* 
            P1 T 71                                         P5 T 44 
                                                            P5 U 21 
 
    P12R or P1B? 69                                P45R or P? B 79

*   numbers have been confused, resolution uncertain