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