I apologize in advance if this message is off topic, but I just saw something really cool and I couldn't find anyone else on the 'net to ask, so you kind people get a neophyte's question: At approximately 5:20 zulu (1:20am eastern US local), I, along with about half the Cornell University campus who were exiting the local bars after 1:00 am closing, saw a bright orange glowing ball that moved from south to north in the western sky. The object appeared to be a de-orbiting satellite because it did not streak across the sky rapidly like a meteor, it had no flashing strobes or red/green position lights like an airplane, and it seemed to be breaking up as it traveled along (small glowing bits broke off from the main body several times). I have seen several polar orbiting satellites over the years (through binoculars) and this object was travelling at a similar speed. I didn't have the foresight to time the object precisely, but what I recall and my local data are as follows: Location: Ithaca, New York, USA LAT/LON from my trusty handheld GPS: N 42 26.4' / W 76 29.2' Time (approx): 05:20 UTC September 2, 2000 Object's direction of travel : south to north (looked like a 360 degree true heading) Object's apparent angle above western horizon: 40-50 degrees (measured after the fact with an inclinometer) Duration of event: 2-3 minutes (I walked about 300 meters in the time it took the object to travel roughly one fourth of the visible sky from a position due west until it disappeared in atmospheric haze) Relative brightness: Brightest object in the sky, I don't have the ability to quantify it for you. Atmospheric conditions: Syracuse, NY (roughly 25 nm north) reported 8 statue miles visibility at 6:10Z and that seems accurate to me for when I saw the object. Sky had scattered thin overcast, and not more than 20 stars were visible with the naked eye around the object. The object was bright enough for me to notice it while walking in a city with lots of ground lights and hazy conditions, that's pretty bright. Since NASA's and JPL's website contained precious little information to help me identify this object I would appreciate any assistance your combined wisdom could render. Respectfully; Rob Shuck Cornell University Ithaca, NY ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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