Re: Debris?
JAY RESPLER (jrespler@superlink.net)
Wed, 14 Apr 1999 23:55:59 -0400
Edward S Light wrote:
> In the past week, we've seen three "debris" objects (using 7x50 and
> 10x50 binoculars) that we weren't looking for ...
> Object UTC Date/Time Apparent "Quicksat"
> Magnitude Intrinsic Mag
> 07174=73-086EL 1999 04 06/00:20 7.6 5.9
> 07160=73-086DY 1999 04 13/00:21 5.5 3.7
> 08978=75-004BL 1999 04 13/00:21 4.8 4.7
> I have a question regarding their observed brightness ... I've usually
> assumed that "debris" means small and faint and therefore unlikely to be
> seen in binoculars at our fairly light-polluted sight. Has anyone seen
> these objects recently? Are our brightness estimates at all reasonable?
This is the reason I worked to get RCS added to the SatSit Rept. There's
normally no way to know how large debris is. The RCS value, while not exact,
is a good guide to the probability of seeing an object. There are some debris
pieces that can be seen with binoculars.
Here are a couple I just observed.
QUICKSAT output B:
*** 1999 Apr 14 Wed morning *** Times are AM EDT *** 2022 532
H M S Tim Al Azi C Dir Mag Dys F Hgt Shd Rng EW Phs R A Dec
23483 9485G deb rcs.8
1 27 15 .0 52 287 69 22.3=10.3 3 0 1181 99 1403 .6 63 1034 40.6
saw5sec v?
HIGHFLY:
*** 1999 Apr 13/14 Tue evening/Wed morning *** Times are EDT
Hrs Min Azi El Mag Hgt R A Dec Range
25500 98025F rc.8 M 3.5 ELDY 3 M214197
4 18 350 33 4.7=6.2 385 8 11.8 79.2 646
4 17 26 saw 4sec
--
Jay Respler
--
JRespler@superlink.net
Sky Views: http://njsurf.com/skyviews/
Satellite Tracker * Early Typewriter Collector
Freehold, New Jersey