Geosync Flasher Nears Orion's Belt
Robert Sheaffer (sheaffer@netcom.com)
Tue, 8 Apr 1997 18:34:07 -0700
The period from April 8 to approximately April 22 offers observers
in western North America an excellent opportunity to observe the
brilliant geosynchronous flashing satellite Superbird A, as it passes
near the stars of Orion's belt.
Superbird A is a dead Japanese television satellite that is drifting
and tumbling in near-geosynchronous orbit. It remains in nearly
the same position for long periods of time, but drifts westward at
a rate of approximately two degrees per day. It is rotating with a
period of approximately 23 seconds. For a period of about 6 - 7 minutes
per day, a specular reflection of the sun is returned to earth by the
dead satellite's rotating solar panels. This results in brilliant flashes
of milisecond duration, looking like a flashbulb going off in the sky.
Some of these flashes reach at least magnitude 3. Sometimes two
reflections are seen per rotation, as the sun reflects off both
the front and back sides of the panel.
The information below gives the position and approximate time of the
peak flashes of Superbird A as it nears the stars of Orion's belt
at the time it is returning its reflections toward us.
Allow several minutes' possible variance in these times. These times
are for observers in the San Francisco Bay region. Corrections for
geographic locations are given below. Begin your observations at least
5 - 10 minutes before the predicted peak. Use low-power binoculars (i.e.,
7x35, 8x50, etc.) to locate and observe the object. The brighter flashes
may be visible to the unaided eye, but most of the flashes will probably
not be, except in very dark sites.
Date (local time) Time Position
April 8 20:43 PDT (03:43 UT April 9) Approx. 6 degrees east of
Zeta Orionis (easternmost star in belt)
April 11 20:47 PDT Approx. 3 degrees east of Zeta Orionis
April 13 20:49 PDT Approx. 1 degree east of Zeta Orionis
April 15 20:52 PDT Approx. 1 degree south of Zeta Orionis
April 18 20:56 PDT Approx. 2 degrees south of Epsilon Orionis
(center star in belt)
April 20 20:59 PDT Approx. 4 degrees south of Delta Orionis
(westernmost star in belt).
For observers in other locations, apply the following corrections:
-2 mins Vancouver,BC; Seattle, WA
0 San Francisco; central Oregon; eastern Washington
+2 Southern California (L.A. & San Diego); central Nevada; central Idaho;
central to western Montana
+4 Central Arizona; eastern Utah; central Colorado; eastern Montana;
northwest North Dakota
+6 Central New Mexico; south-eastern Colorado; central Nebraska; southeast
South Dakota; central Minnesota
+8 Central Texas and Oklahoma; SE Kansas; NW Missouri; Iowa/Illinois
border; Chicago; central Michigan
+9 Houston and eastern Texas; central Arkansas; all along the Ohio River;
central Ohio; western Pennsylvania
+10 New Orleans and eastern Louisiana; southern Mississippi; nothern
Alabama; northern Georgia; Tennessee/North Carolina border;
southern Virginia
The farther east you are, the lower this object will be in the sky.
Its position with respect to the stars will also change slightly.
Some observers in the southeastern states may be able to observe this,
very low on the horizon.
Thanks to satellite-prediction guru Rob Matson for providing much of
the above information.
Rob suggests that there is a possibility of a second set of flashes
from Superbird A, at roughly 3:05-310 AM PDT (10:05 UT). The same
geographic corrections would apply. This flash has never been observed.
Should anyone be awake to see it, some accurate time mesaurements would
be quite valuable. Since Superbird A is in near-geosynchronous-orbit, it
will be in about the same position in the sky, only with a different
background of stars. If you observe it in the evening and line it
up with an object on the ground, it will be in that same position
all night. Or you can set your binoculars on a tripod, and leave
them pointing at it (if they don't drown in dew).
Rob also notes the possibility that observers in New Zealand and
eastern Australia may be able to see Superbird A flashing in
the pre-dawn sky. In South Australia, Victoria, NSW, and
Queensland, look approximately 9:05 UT (whatever time that may
be, local time). From New Zealand, look approximately 09:15 UT,
and from Fiji and Samoa approx. 09:20 UT. From eastern Australia,
Superbird A will be roughly at 64 deg azimuth, elevation 20 deg,
roughly 6 degrees to the right of Beta Leonis, and about 11
degrees to the lower right of Mars. These possible flashes also
have not been observed; if seen, accurate time measurements
would be valuable.
If you make some interesting observations of Superbird A, please post
them here.
Robert Sheaffer - robert@debunker.com - Skeptical to the Max!
my new GPS tells me I'm at 37 deg 17.3' N.,
121 deg 59.2' west (San Jose, CA)
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