Hi Rob, >Fortunately, I timed its conjunction with a dim star (mag 7.36): That's not a "dim star" (in an 8-inch). :-) >This information should be sufficient for one of our experts >to refine the orbit. Yes, but since none of them are currently available, I'll give it a try: DSP 1 98001U 99055.13914366 .00000000 00000-0 00000+0 0 01 2 98001 4.3200 58.4266 0012000 85.6064 274.3935 1.00274000 09 Thanks for the observation, Rob. I have not been able to see it since we went off daylight "savings" time since it doesn't flash until after my bedtime. :-) (Rob should mention that it flashes to about 6th ot 7th magnitude every 2.5 seconds from about 3:45UT until about 4:30UT.) It does drift slowly to the east until they boost it into a slightly higher orbit. Then it drifts slowly to the west until it stops and starts drifting slowly east again. It stays within a degree or two of the same longitude. While I have the soapbox, I would like to put in a "plug" for Centaur Rk 8.6 3.0 0.0 3.5 v 1 25035U 97068B 99016.92061084 .00000000 00000-0 00000+0 0 02 2 25035 64.5800 281.1640 7023000 265.4800 94.1617 2.02916000 07 This Centaur rocket flashes every second and when it comes over the US in the evening sky at only 5000 miles, it's quite spectacular. But I must admit that this elset is in error. I observed it to be about 5 minutes early compared to this elset (and a little east), but I have not taken time to revise the elset. The best passes are already occurring for the West Coast, with more favorable passes to the east over the next week. Mike McCants