Re: Unidentified Bright Tumbling Satellite
Ted Molczan (molczan@fox.nstn.ca)
Sun, 1 Sep 1996 08:18:03 -0400
Robert Scheaffer wrote:
>Tonight we were preparing to watch the pass of 19671 Lacrosse 1,
>predicted by Quicksat to transit at approx. 20:55 PDT (Sept. 1 03:55 UT),
>passing from Ursa Major in the northwest to near Vega overhead. Just
>before it was due, an unexpected tumbling satellite was seen
>travelling approximately the same path about 1 1/2 minute earlier,
>reaching transit at approx. 20:53:20. It was quite bright, approx Mag. 2
>at its brightest, fading to about Mag 4, with a period of about 2
>seconds. It passed into Lyra from the northwest, then on toward
>Aquila/Pegasus.
Although the time of its passage does not match your report exactly,
I believe that you saw:
Cosmos 2322 r 10.4 3.9 0.0 4.6
1 23705U 95058 B 96242.09108254 .00000026 00000-0 13756-4 0 1105
2 23705 71.0247 117.9350 0012712 340.6725 19.3898 14.14164473 42735
It is a Zenit 2nd stage, most of which flash rapidly during their
first few years in orbit.
Ted Molczan