A bright retrograde satellite to identify

From: alain.figer@club-internet.fr
Date: Thu Sep 18 2008 - 19:49:17 UTC

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    Hi all,

     

    Using the H-A ephemeris, I observed tonight (sept 18) the Cosmos 1093 rocket (i 81.2° H 320km) that had a favorable pass at dusk for Paris.

    The prediction was a culmination at 18h 52m 38s UT (h 81° W) with a pass 8 secondes earlier at less than 10 degrees from Vega.

    I expected its magnitude would almost challenge that of Vega, however it was a somewhat " disappointing " pass : mag 1.5 at maximum. The brightness was constant.

    Even more brighter was another satellite, unexpectedly passing only a few seconds later than FC 1093 - on a more inclined orbit (presumed i 98°) - and having a much closer appulse to Vega. Near Vega the satellite was at about mag 0.5 then faded heading towards the North. Later the satellite flared shortly at mag 1 at h30-35°N. The brightness has been strongly variable. The photometric behaviour was poorly observed due to the fact I had to observe from 2 distincts balconies of my flat.

    Whereas FC 1093 had had a close appulse to Polaris, the retrograde satellite crossed the line Alfa-Beta UMi maybe half a minute later or so. Clearly its altitude was higher than that of FC 1093, at 450-500 km ( ? ?), only a very rough estimation (at view !).

     

    Thanks for identifying this satellite.

     

    By the way which is (roughly) the expected decay date for FC 1093 (1979-32B) ?

     

    Sincerely

     

    Alain Figer

    48.891 N

    2.113 E

    40 meters above sea level

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