New Geosync flasher discovered by Ed Cannon
Mike McCants (mikem@freeside.fc.net)
Mon, 14 Dec 1998 12:49:51 -0600 (CST)
A new geosync flasher discovered last night by Ed Cannon has been
identified as BS-3A (1990 77A, 20771).
The SSR entry says:
20771 90-077A BS-3A (YURI 3A) JPN 1457.4 0.6 36235 36168
The prediction for the "Canyon of the Eagles" observing site was:
*** 98 Dec 13 Sun evening *** Times are CST (UT - 6) ***
20771 BS-3A 90 77A M 3.5 ELDY 6 M2 -1
MAG HGT ALT AZI HRS MIN R A DEC RANGE
11.8 22505 52 163 8 0 1 37.4 -5.8 23216
11.7 22502 52 163 8 30 2 7.0 -5.8 23214
11.6 22499 52 163 9 0 2 36.5 -5.9 23211
11.6 22497 52 163 9 30 3 6.1 -5.9 23209
11.6 22494 52 164 10 0 3 35.7 -5.9 23205
The current elset is:
1 20771U 90077A 98342.05056377 -.00000161 +00000-0 +00000-0 0 02676
2 20771 000.6223 150.2632 0007956 339.5909 267.8460 00.98809662036242
Ed noticed naked-eye flashes at alt 52, azi 163 around 8PM.
I was able to acquire the object in my 8 inch telescope.
I timed 12 cycles in 1058.4 seconds to give a period of 88.2 seconds.
Some flashes were very bright (mag 2 or 3) and some were fainter
(5 or 6). The flashes gradually became fainter over the next 30
minutes. However, I could see occasional tumbles to about magnitude
11 in my 8 inch as I tracked it over the next 3 hours.
The flashes were seen from about 02:00UT to 02:30UT Dec 14.
We will look again tonight. Of course other observers are
encouraged to try to determine the time of maximum flashing
as seen across the US.
Ed also noticed the Telecom 2B Ariane rocket going by just to the
north of BS-3A about 9:10CST.
21941 Ariane Rk 92 21C 15 M 3.0 ELDY 4 M2 54
MAG HGT ALT AZI HRS MIN R A DEC RANGE
10.0 12809 53 163 9 5 2 40.4 -5.5 13442
9.9 12376 53 163 9 10 2 47.6 -5.6 13013
9.8 11924 52 162 9 15 2 55.3 -5.8 12568
It was tunbling to about magnitude 10 with a period of about 4 seconds.
I have observed it several times in the past.
Mike McCants
Austin, Tx