FORTE NOT observed: Important Lesson Learned
Jim Varney (sat_watcher@rocketmail.com)
Sun, 31 Aug 1997 11:13:17 -0700 (PDT)
Track16 SGP4/SDP4 Topocentric Location: -121.398 +38.458 +0008m
YearMoDa H M S Long(+E) Lat(+N) Hgt Range Sun Azi Alt
R.A. Dec
Cosmos 614 r
19970830 04:04:45 -113.1863 35.5096 778 1150 -16.6 111.61 38.86
21:41.7 9.5
FORTE
19970830 04:07:27 -112.4227 35.1545 832 1252 -17.0 111.86 37.61
21:47.5 8.5
The two object's tracks were nearly identical.
Cosmos 614 r was the object I saw, not FORTE. When C 614 r came into
view ahead of my watch alarm, I followed it but I repeatedly swept the
orbital plane back to where FORTE was supposed to be. Seeing nothing
I assumed C 614 r was FORTE. Bad assumption.
Lesson Learned: *Satellite Misidentification Occurs Easily In Our
Crowded Skies* Be Careful!
__________________________________________________
Jim Varney 121.398W 38.458N 8m Sacramento, CA
jamesv@softcom.net, sat_watcher@rocketmail.com
_____________________________________________________________________
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