Re: obs of ATS 5 R
Kurt Jonckheere (kjonckheere@unicall.be)
Mon, 7 Apr 1997 23:30:32 +0200
hello,
At 19:54 29-03-97 +1000, you wrote:
>Vince Gardiner, VAG, Lat = -30.35, Long = +153.082, Alt = 12 m
>69- 69 B 97-03-29 09:32 VAG 438.2 0.3 5 87.6 FF mag -2 ->inv
>69- 69 B 97-03-30 09:30 VAG 263.4 0.3 3 87.8 FF mag0->inv
Our PPAS archive of flashing periods has :
69- 69 B 82-09-04 08:40:16 RW 0.1 28 8.794 mag +6->inv
69- 69 B 82-09-22 10:18:42 RW 0.5 39 8.74
69- 69 B 82-09-24 09:08:55 RW 0.1 34 8.786 mag +5->inv
69- 69 B 94-04-11 23:10 KJ 248.2 0.3 28 8.86 telescopic
69- 69 B 94-04-11 23:16 KD 177.6 0.3 20 8.88 telescopic
69- 69 B 94-04-11 23:19 KJ 248.5 0.3 28 8.88 telescopic
69- 69 B 94-04-11 23:20 KD 567.9 0.3 64 8.873 telescopic
Ron Welch saw it long ago, Kurt Dequick and I saw it two years ago.
I didn't mentioned a magnitude estimate, but it I would have been
bright in the C8, I would have written down it.
According to these observations, the period can be determined
very well and accurate.
Because Vince measured a much larger period I guess he saw another
object (maybe a payload ?).
As usual with high objects, the decrease of the period is very,
very slow... , an increase of the period with about 0.1 second
over 12 years, so this one will be flashing for some more
centuries...
>This object was seen at 21000 KM ! distance, naked eye. First flash was
>mag -2 and each following flash lost about 2 magnitudes until its next
>cycle, whch commenced with a mag 0 flash. Extremely slow moving.
According to the Sat Sit Report, the object 69- 69 B = 4069
is a Atlas Centaur Rocket. (no solar panels to give specular
flashes ...)
Some other of these rockets are still flashing nicely
e.g. 71- 6 B, 81- 18 B, 81-119 B (also rather bright,
see Leo's reports).
>If any-one has any further candidates I would like to hear of them.
me too, no report yet ?
>Vince Gardiner. vgardi@coffs.net.au
>Coffs Harbour N.S.W. Australia
>-30.35 +153.082
Greetings,
Kurt J
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Kurt Jonckheere (kjonckheere@unicall.be) 51.2 N 2.9 E 4m ASL
Latest accelerations : http://uc2.unicall.be/kjonckheere/index.htm
observations collector for the Belgian Working Group Satellites:
Send your observations of flashing satellites, preferrably in the correct
PPAS format to ppas@cds.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de
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