Top-priority objects of the BWGS

Bart De Pontieu (BDP@MPEPL)
Mon, 26 Feb 1996 09:51:38 +0100 (CET)

High-priority objects of the Belgian Working Group Satellites
-------------------------------------------------------------

The Belgian Working Group Satellites has been active in collecting flash
period measurements since 1987. Our priority list contains over 200
satellites. An overview of our program (including recent observations) can
be obtained by sending a message with Subject: archive get program/program.*
to SeeSat-L-request@iris01.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de

Here is an overview of the objects which are rated 'top-priority'. These 
are objects of which we suspect that the flash period is changing in an 
atypical way. Usually this means the rocket's rotation around its own rotation
axis is accelerating, so that the flash period becomes shorter. This 
behaviour is not fully understood, so detailed observations are very much 
needed. We always welcome new observers. For more details on how to 
report/perform flash period measurements, contact me or Tristan Cools 
(addresses below), or check out our Web-pages at this URL:  
http://users.skynet.be/satimage/bwgs/bwgs.htm

Please note my changed address: bdp@mpepl.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de

The following format is used :
LINE 1 : COSPAR-ID, priority code, number of observations, NORAD-number, name 
of satellite, remark on reason for top-priority.
LINE 2,3,4 : most recent observations in this format :
Date, Initials of observer, flash period in seconds, remarks about magnitude
and appearance.

65-  8 A !     1001/Transtage 3,Titan 3A: no acceleration anymore
95-10-10 MM   5.01  7-9, flash to 5.5 
95-12-24 MM  10.49  6-inv, triple max 
96-01-04 MM  10.49  triple max      

79- 30 B !     11327/C1 Kosmos 1092: be alert !
95-12-27 KJ   8.1   sa at the end     
95-12-27 WV   8.3   mist              
96-01-07 KJ   8.4                

84-109 B !x    15360/C1 Kosmos 1605: continues to accelerate !
95-11-08 MM  14.3   7-inv, ssm        
95-11-13 MM  14.0   4-8, ssm          
95-11-15 KJ  13.5                    

85- 94 G !     16144/F2 Tsyklon K1690-1695: still going down 
95-12-24 MM  33.3   sm                
96-01-03 LB  32.2   AA, mag 5->inv    
96-01-14 LB  29.2   AA, mag 5->inv    

87- 49 B !     18096/C1 Kosmos 1850: accelerated very fast
95-12-24 MVP 12     mag +4            
95-12-27 KJ  20.0   sa in the beginnin
96-01-09 PM   6

87- 98 B !     18586/C1 Kosmos 1898: still going down ? 
95-01-28 BDP 77     AF'F', mag 2      
95-04-18 LB  11.9   AA, mag 4->4.5    
95-04-19 LB         S, mag 4

88- 53 B !     19257/C1 Kosmos 1954: same remark as 92-36B
95-04-02 RO         one minute ?      
96-01-09 PM   5.70                    
96-01-09 PM   5.7

90-111 B !     21015/C1 Kosmos 2112: period decreasing again ?
96-01-30 WV         Ir +4 +6          
96-01-31 WV         S +5              
96-01-31 KJ  10.0   became sa

91- 59 B !     21667/C1 Kosmos 2154: MM jump=>accelerating !
96-01-31 KJ  30.6   FF, mag +5->inv   
96-02-04 TC  23.0   AA, mag +3.5      
96-02-08 MM  17.0   4.5-7.5

92-  8 B !x    21876/C1 Kosmos 2180: still going down !
95-12-24 KJ  18.8                     
95-12-27 KJ  18.8                     
95-12-28 WV  19.0

92- 12 B !     21903/C1 Kosmos 2181: accelerting
96-01-29 LB         S, mag 5          
96-01-30 LB   3.83  FF, mag 4->inv    
96-01-31 LB   3.84  FF, mag 5->inv

92- 20 B !     21938/C1 Kosmos 2184: no change
96-01-29 LB         S, mag 4          
96-01-29 LB  45.8   AA, mag 3->inv    
96-01-31 LB  44.5   AA, mag 4->7

92- 36 B !     22007/C1 Kosmos 2195: short period now !
96-01-15 LB   2.459 FF, 5->inv, diffus
96-01-15 TC   2.42  FF, mag +3        
96-01-22 LB   2.52  Ff, mag 3(5)->inv 

94- 74 B !     23343/J1 Zenit Resurs 1-3: first Zenit to have a small accn !
95-09-26 RE   3                       
95-09-27 RE   2.88                    
95-10-01 RE   2.9

95- 52 B !     23677/C1 K2321: to be observed, urgently !

Cheers,
    Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
  & Bart De Pontieu (bdp@mpepl.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de)