Cosmos 2372 and its rocket

From: Edward S Light (edlight@juno.com)
Date: Mon Oct 09 2000 - 17:24:54 PDT

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    This evening, in unexpectedly clear skies, we saw a spectacular
    pass of the Cosmos 2372 rocket (00-056B = 26539). At 23:11.5 UTC
    (09 October 2000), as it zipped through the not-yet dark skies
    through Cassiopeia, it was flashing at approximately four cycles
    per second reaching a peak brightness of about -1 magnitude (i.e.
    considerably brighter than Vega's +0.03 and Arcturus' -0.05).
    Even the most casual of observers would have noticed it - probably
    mistaking it for an aircraft.
    
    Later, at 23:34 UTC, we saw Cosmos 2372 itself (00-056A = 26538)
    move quickly through Hercules to below Aquila, at a steady magnitude
    of about +1/2 (between Vega's +0.03 and Altair's +0.76).
    
    A very nice pair; too bad the rocket is on the verge of decay.
    
    Clear and dark skies!
    
    Ed and Darlene Light
    Lakewood, New Jersey, USA
    40.1075N, 074.2312W, +24m (80 feet)
    
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