Cosmos 1408 fl-a-a-r-r-e ?
Robert G Fenske Jr (fenske@rgfpc.electro.swri.edu)
Tue, 15 Dec 1998 08:59:13 -0600 (CST)
Yesterday in the evening's lingering twilight, I stepped outside
about a minute early to watch a -7 Iridium flare. About 30 seconds later
I spied a growing bright point (~00:19 15 Dec 98 UTC) about 30 degrees
east of the expected flare location. It flared up to a little brighter
than Jupiter (~-3) as though it were the Iridium flare--it was just at the
wrong time in the wrong location. It stayed -3 for about 20 sec, then
faded to about +0, stayed there for about 20 sec, then faded to +2-+3 for
about 20 sec, then faded away. Since I paid so much attention to this
event I never saw the expected Iridium flare. Afterwards the only
satellite I found that more or less matched was Cosmos 1408 (#13552). Has
anyone seen this behavior from this satellite before?
Robert Fenske, Jr. rfenske@swri.edu Sw |The Taming the C*sm*s series:
Southwest Research Institute /R---\ |
Signal Exploitation & Geolocation Div | I | |"The Martian canals were the
San Antonio,Texas USA ph:210-522-3931 \----/ | Martians' last ditch effort."