Retraction of Feb 4 observation of Molniya 3-16

Mike McCants (mikem@fc.net)
Thu, 5 Feb 1998 11:49:29 -0600 (CST)

"The sky is filled with satellites."  Me

The Molniya 2-10 rocket, object 74 56D, happened along about
4 or 5 minutes ahead of Molniya 3-16 on a very similar course.

Molniya 2-10 Rk
1 07382U 74056D   98033.06458489 -.00000119  00000-0 -36292-2 0  1033
2 07382  63.0258  94.6144 6570961 296.4326  11.8416  2.91049490 64133

Molniya 2-10 Rk   1998 FEB 4
 time   alt azi    R.A.    dec  range   hgt
0332:00  44  55   9 37.7  44.89  6685  5903
0334:00  43  53   9 45.3  46.59  6990  6163
0336:00  42  51   9 52.9  48.11  7292  6420
0338:00  42  49  10  0.4  49.48  7589  6672
0340:00  41  47  10  7.9  50.72  7883  6921
0342:00  40  46  10 15.3  51.84  8172  7166
0344:00  39  45  10 22.7  52.86  8456  7407

A retrospective Molniya 3-16 prediction:

 time   alt azi    R.A.    dec  range   hgt
0336:00  48  54   9 23.0  45.54  4904  4308
0338:00  46  51   9 36.6  47.76  5118  4451
0340:00  43  49   9 50.5  49.71  5329  4587
0342:00  41  47  10  4.7  51.41  5536  4717
0344:00  40  45  10 19.3  52.88  5738  4840

The actual predicted position I was using was:

0328:00  44  55   9 36.9  45.01

I would have looked farther west to compensate for the Earth's
rotation, so I might have seen the Molniya if the rocket
had not happened along.

If I had watched the rocket until 3:44, the Molniya would have
caught up with it and been only about 1/2 degree to the west.

"If only ..."  Anonymous

Mike McCants