Abrixas et al
Edward S Light (light@argoscomp.com)
Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:10:40 -0400 (EDT)
Last night (i.e. early 04/30/99 UTC) the essentially full Moon was, to
say the least, annoying, but we were able to spot Abrixas and its rocket
passing through Leo's tail.
Date/Time UTC Object Appar.Mag Intrinsic Mag (quicksat)
------------- ---------------------- ---------- ------------------------
19990430/0117 25721=99-022A Abrixas 5.9 6.5
19990430/0118 25723=99-022C Rocket 2.1-3.4 2.8-4.0 Varying with
very approx 10s period
(Magnitudes are +/- a few tenths and are based on nearby comparison stars)
Incidentally, about an hour earlier, Iridium 76 flared to perhaps magnitude
-4 (but not the iridflar-predicted -6.9) and "Iridium 69 ?" didn't flare
(at least to the unaided eye in twilight) at all; I guess that's the reason
for the "?".
Also, the soon-to-decay 08755=76-024B=Cosmos 808 SL-3 R/B was an easy
naked eye object, even in twilight; it is really moving FAST!
Clear and dark skies!
Ed Light
Lakewood, NJ, USA
N 40.1072, W 074.2317, Hgt +21 m (69 ft)