Re: Sat burn/release seen from NSW

From: Bob Christy via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 09:17:18 +0000
Yaogan 34 was launched from Jiuquan at 07:27 UTC - expected orbit inclination is 63° but will have to wait for first TLEs from Space-Track in the next few hours for confirmation. China does not announce orbit data.

From that location, it fits the ground track and the timing. This may be an observation of the upper stage firing to reduce perigee in order to accelerate decay. Argument of perigee for the disposal orbit is usually around 30° so this fits a firing at about 1100 km altitude.

Robert Christy

> On 30 Apr 2021, at 08:37, Robert McNaught via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> My mate Steve Quirk in Mudgee, NSW (Lat -32.46, Long 149.66E, Ht 500m) just saw a satellite related diffuse glow with the naked-eye about 1/2 to 1 degree across. In binocs, there was a bright point in the centre and a dark wedge behind it. It was first noticed around 45deg up in the WSW, travelling from the NNW. It got fainter as it expanded and either disappeared into shadow or smoke haze around 10deg up in the SSE. Other than the glow, it appeared just a normal satellite.
> 
> It was last seen on 2021 Apr 30 at 08:03UT
> 
> Steve got an image on his phone.
> 
> Cheers, Rob
> _______________________________________________
> Seesat-l mailing list
> http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l


_______________________________________________
Seesat-l mailing list
http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
Received on Fri Apr 30 2021 - 09:17:18 UTC

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Fri Apr 30 2021 - 09:18:07 UTC