Help with ID of flasher

Wayne T Hally (wayne.t.hally@bangate.tek.com)
Mon, 2 Feb 98 16:35:24 EST 

Hello Satell-ites :->
	I've been lurking here for a while, and was wondering if someone could 
help me ID a flashing satellite I witnessed Sunday AM. My primary avocation 
is meteor observing; as a result I spend many long mornings gazing at the 
sky, and look forward to the bonus of seeing satellites near dawn. I now 
record magnitudes and approximate paths of satellites I see; as long as I 
don't need to plot a meteor at that particular time. Anyhow, I observed at 
least 4 flashes of mag +3 to mag ~0 ..didn't get a real good look at the 
first, brightest one, but mag 0 is close. The other 2 were +1 and +2. Since 
it was the first real flashing one I saw, I did not get real good 
timing...I'd guess about 8 to 12 seconds between flashes, which were very 
short duration, 0.2 sec max. Between flashes it was dimmer that the LM of 
+5.8 I recorded at that time, except for a few seconds when it was just 
visible.
	Here are the particulars: Location, NJAA Observatory, High Bridge NJ. 
74d 53' 54" West,	
40d 40' 52" North, Elevation 830 ft (253 M).
	Time 0509 EST (1009 UT) on Feb 1. The +1 (3rd) flash occurred at 
approximately azimuth 105, elev 60; this was RA 16 H 5 m  Dec +28 (just 
below Corona Borealis). The path was roughly SW to NE; a little hard to 
determine since it was visible only during the flashes, and I wasn't really 
prepared to record the data. It was a fairly busy meteor night (for this 
time of year) so I had my hands full!
	In any case, if anyone can assuage my curiousity I'd really appreciate 
it. By the way, my notes show 6 satellites (3 SW-NE, and 1 each NE-SW, N-S, 
and NW to SE) between the first noted at 0437  (0937 UT) and the end of my 
observing session at 0545 (1045 UT).
	 I would like to learn more about using the tools for finding these 
out for my self, but my meteor duties, and the dubious distinction of being 
the NJAA Light Pollution Commitee leave little free time at the moment.
	 While a reply can be posted to the list, I'd appreciate an e-mail as 
well, since for some reason I do not always receive all the attachments 
listed in the Digest summary. 

	Thanx and clear skies to us all

Wayne T Hally
NJAA Meteor Research Coordinator