RE: Bright unid flasher

From: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2020 05:08:17 -0400
Jonathan McDowell wrote:

> I've had a number of people (mostly experienced observers) contact me over
> the past two weeks reporting a very bright flaring satellite not matched by
> obvious searches on heavens-above:
> Jason Major:    0335 UTC Jul 14, Rhode Island
> Casey Crandall: 1015 UTC Jul 9, Ogden, UT
> Mark Marley:    1145 UTC Jul 9, San Francisco area
> Ron Dantowitz:  0536 UTC Jul 10, Brookline, MA
> Seems plausible the reports are related. Just random flaring Starlinks
> or something else? Any ideas?
> Some details attached.
>   - Jonathan

Ron Dantowitz also contacted me regarding his sighting, which I identified as TELKOM 3 (12044A / 38744), which is a
well-known flasher.

It was above the horizon at the time and place of the sightings of Jason Major and Casey Crandall. 

It rose above the horizon 1 min. later than the time reported by Mark Marley. How precise was his time?

TELKOM 3's apogee has decayed from its original 5000 km, to a little over 1000 km. Perigee is just 234 km perigee. In
recent days, apogee has decayed at about 1 km/day.

Ted Molczan


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Received on Tue Jul 14 2020 - 04:09:27 UTC

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