Geostationary Solar Eclipse 6/7-FEB

From: Gerhard HOLTKAMP (grd.holtkamp@t-online.de)
Date: Sun Feb 03 2008 - 18:30:42 UTC

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    Observers in Europe, Africa and Western Asia might be able to see the change 
    in brightness of some geostationary satellites close to position 17.8 deg 
    East due to an annular eclipse.
    
    Annularity happens at 23:53 UTC (6-FEB-08) for the Astra cluster at 19.3 deg 
    East: ASTRA 1F (1996-021A, ASTRA 1G (1997-076A), ASTRA 1H (1999-033A), ASTRA 
    1KR (2006-012A), ASTRA 1L (2007-016A). 
    
    At 0:03 UTC (7-FEB-08) EUTELSAT W2 (1998-056A) at 16.2 deg East should 
    experience an annular eclipse. 
    
    In either case the eclipse will last for little less than half an hour with an 
    expected drop in brightness by 1 mag during the final 7 minutes before 
    annularity.
    
    Some observers in Central and South-East Asia might be able to witness a total 
    eclipse for satellites close to 33.3 deg East.
    
    At 13:19 UTC (7-FEB-08) INTELSAT 802 (1997-031A) at 33.1 deg East will be in 
    for a total eclipse and at 13:18 (7-FEB-08) it's the turn of EUROBIRD 3 
    (2003-43A) at 33.3 East. The total duration of the eclipse is 1:20 hours with 
    totality lasting 1min 20 sec.
    
    Gerhard HOLTKAMP
    Darmstadt, Germany
    
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