RE: Obs Sept 16 and UnId
Brierley David (DMBRIERLEY@dera.gov.uk)
Mon, 20 Sep 1999 11:40:20 +0100
Jim
> 23937 96 029F 8935 E 19990916025838760 27 25 1523509+715171 28 S+075
> 10
>
> note: TiPs appeared as a point, not the usual line, was the tether
> extended
> away from the planet? Am I correct in assuming that the axis of
> rotation
> is perpendicular to its flight path?
>
After launch TiPS took a little while to settle down, but every time I
see it now the tether is vertical in the sky. This is because the
stable configuration is for the two weights that it connects to always
lie in the local vertical.
I don't know what other observers think, but I believe that the tether
is much less bright than when it was first launched, and I only see it
in 20x80 binoculars on a favourable transit and really dark sky. The
weights are visible on and off even when the tether isn't.
David.
David M Brierley
Malvern, Worcestershire, UK
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