Nice night

Jeff Hunt (jhunt@eagle1.eaglenet.com)
Mon, 7 Apr 97 21:06:36

Yes, it was a very nice night for observing (April 7).

First observed Mir in the NW at about 20 deg altitude max, fairly bright for 
the low illumination, maybe mag 3.

Below Mir and only several seconds behind at about 10 deg. alt in the NW was 
the Progress r/b which I could only see with 7x50 binocs.  It was flashing 
with about a 1 second period. Minima was invisible, maxima was maybe mag 6. 
The below tle was good for observation.

Observed the dim fluorescent Tips (cat.no. 23937) which I haven't seen in a 
long time. It was nicely positioned in the SE for high illumination but I 
was surprised how dim it was in 7x50 binocs.  I couldn't pick it until its 
transit was almost half over. Averted vision helps.

Last, but not least, was Progress M-34, very low in the NW, observable only 
in the binocs for this pass.  Again on time for the below tle.

Progress M-34
1 24757U 97014A   97097.84124819  .00052379  12808-4  71735-4 0    71
2 24757  51.6517  79.5724 0023509 141.5708 218.1225 16.05928625   196
Progress r/b
1 24758U 97014B   97097.52075837  .03480006  12179-4  62925-3 0   102
2 24758  51.6467  81.2267 0018182  83.4258 276.9558 16.31114492   142

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Jeff Hunt, Charlotte Hall, Md.  38.51N, 76.76W 
E-mail: jhunt@eagle1.eaglenet.com