At 09:07 12/10/98 +0200, Chris Peat wrote: >I just got this message from a user of our web site. Could anyone please >help him? > >Chris >Chris Peat, Anite Systems >Currently working at the German Space Operations Centre near Munich > >-----Original Message----- >From: fwestra@hetnet.nl <fwestra@hetnet.nl> >To: Chris.Peat@anitesystems.com <Chris.Peat@anitesystems.com> >Date: 11 October 1998 19:29 >Subject: Satellite passes in 1996 >>... >> > >>My question: >> >>Is it possible to retrieve similar data on satellite passes in the >>year 1996? >> >>On June 13, 1996, at about 23.03 UTC I observed a satellite moving >>from west to east, about 30 - 40 degrees above the horizon. My >>position was 52.17N 6.38E. >> >>The remarkable thing was that this satellite was being accompanied by >>ten smaller objects, seven in front, three behind. I had to use my >>binoculars to see this. They were all in the same straight line in >>which they moved to the east. The distances between the objects >>didn't change. I've been told that the smaller objects probably must >>have been debris from the satellite, which must have been in the >>process of decaying. >> >>However, I'm still wondering which satellite it must have been. >> >>From NASA's Spacewarn data I gather that it might have been an Atlas >>2AS Rocket stage (USSPACECOM catalog no. 23462). This one decayed on >>June 27, 1996. There are no other decaying satellites reported by >>Spacewarn in the period from June 13 till June 27. But I don't have >>any track data on 23462, so I'm not sure. >> >>Do you have suggestions how I could solve this small mystery? >> >>Thanks for your help! >> >>Best regards, >>Frits Westra -- fwestra@hetnet.nl >>Netherlands Frits, It is unlikely the object you saw was 95 1B. The only orbital elements available are for the end of march 1996. It only had a 24 degree inclination, and by June 13 its apogee wouldnt be high enough. Also it is unlikely to be in the break-up stage at that point, if it decayed on June 27. However your observation CAN be explained more simply. There was a pass of MIR that was due South of your location at 2301UT. At that time if memory serves me correctly outside activity on MIR had resulted in debris being released. I think there was quite a lot of observations of it reported at the time. Tony Beresford Adelaide, So. aust (-34.97, 138.63E) > > >