With a high elevation pass (76deg) predicted for GRACE 1 #27391 02012A and GRACE 2 #27392 02012B i made out a starchart using SkyMap so i knew where to look at the proper time. I started scanning with my 10x50s about 15 deg West of Polaris and down to Az 357 deg, their arrival point and picked up Grace 1 and then Grace 2. Both were quite bright, easily at 1x even though the predicted mag was 11 to 12 but i didn't want to lose them so i kept my binocs trained on them, mostly Grace 2. Both had an orange tint to them and once they reached approx 50-60 deg in elevation they faded but i was still able to track Grace 2 as it headed South. My hands were busy to check my watch but the time was 05:08 29 Apr UTC as per the prediction. These elsets used for my prediction: GRACE 2 1 27392U 02012B 02115.71189261 .00003576 00000-0 14410-3 0 537 2 27392 89.0221 349.3396 0023707 123.2285 237.1176 15.24296710 5982 GRACE 1 1 27391U 02012A 02116.10552811 .00006096 00000-0 24666-3 0 461 2 27391 89.0259 349.2856 0022192 120.3113 239.9981 15.24313566 6048 Jari 49.40N 125.00W 30m ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 29 2002 - 01:44:01 EDT