Re: USA 39 blinking off

From: Mike McCants (mmccants@io.com)
Date: Sat Apr 04 2009 - 01:28:30 UTC

  • Next message: Derek C Breit: "MetopA flare seen in Morgan Hill"

    Derek C Breit posted:
    
    >Each exposure is ~2.2s..
    
    This is an active DSP satellite (DSP F14, 20066, 89-46A) that was launched
    20 years ago.  Such satellites rotate every 10 seconds and have 4 solar panels 
    tilted at the top.  So flashes are seen from each solar panel every 2.5 seconds.
    Flashes from 20066 are usually seen from Texas from about 03:50 UT until about 4:30 UT.
    
    So if you have an exposure time of 2.2 seconds, you will usually see one
    of those (very brief) flashes.  But every once in a while your exposure
    will take place in between two flashes and you won't see it.
    
    8 exposures would take 17.6 seconds.  There will be 7 flashes in 17.5 seconds.
    
    Mike McCants
    
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