Re: Tumbling Satellite?
Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
Fri, 19 Feb 1999 23:24:39 +0100 (CET)
At 18:46 18-02-99 +0100, you wrote:
>I watched what should have been SL-16 Rocket (98054B/25407) pass by last
>night. I varied in magnitude from nearly invisible in my 10x50 Bell &
>Howells to visible to the naked eye (est. +4.0) with a period of
>approximately 10 seconds.
>
>Is this one known to tumble in its orbit? Is there more information out
>there on the web about tumbling satellites?
Hello,
98054B/25407 is the second stage of the Zenit launcher. Most second stages
from Zenit launches are known to be flashing with a very short period(0.4s)
just after launch. This period is slowing down at a exponential rate untill
it doesn't flash anymore and becomes steady(S).
The Belgian Working Group Satellites is specialised in collecting as many as
possible observations of flashing satellites. We have a database(PPAS) with
more than 40000 observations of flashing(and other) satellites.
You can also check the BWGS(Belgian Working Group Satellites) section of the
VSOHP pages at:
http://www2.satellite.eu.org/VSOHP/
Greetings,
Tristan Cools
tcools@nic.INbe.net
BWGS Member - Belgian Working Group Satellites
Observing at: Damse Vaart: 3.2486E/51.2279N/Rijckevelde:
3.2867E/51.2054N/Brugge: 3.1611E/51.2108N