High-priority objects of the Belgian Working Group Satellites ------------------------------------------------------------- The Belgian Working Group Satellites has been active in collecting flash period measurements since 1987. Our priority list contains over 200 satellites. An overview of our program (including recent observations) can be obtained by sending a message with Subject: archive get program/program.* to SeeSat-L-request@iris01.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de Here is an overview of the objects which are rated 'top-priority'. These are objects of which we suspect that the flash period is changing in an atypical way. Usually this means the rocket's rotation around its own rotation axis is accelerating, so that the flash period becomes shorter. This behaviour is not fully understood, so detailed observations are very much needed. We always welcome new observers. For more details on how to report/perform flash period measurements, contact me or Tristan Cools (addresses below), or check out our Web-pages at this URL: http://users.skynet.be/satimage/bwgs/bwgs.htm The following format is used : LINE 1 : COSPAR-ID, priority code, number of observations, NORAD-number, name of satellite, remark on reason for top-priority. LINE 2,3,4 : most recent observations in this format : Date, Initials of observer, flash period in seconds, remarks about magnitude and appearance. 65- 8 A ! 42 1001/Transtage 3,Titan 3A: no acceleration anymore 95-10-10 MM 5.01 7-9, flash to 5.5 95-12-24 MM 10.49 6-inv, triple max 96-01-04 MM 10.49 triple max 79- 30 B ! 136 11327/C1 Kosmos 1092: be alert ! 95-12-27 KJ 8.1 sa at the end 95-12-27 WV 8.3 mist 96-01-07 KJ 8.4 81-116 J ! 541 12983/C1 Kosmos 1320-1327: no acceleration ? 95-11-15 MM 54 sm 95-11-25 KJ 55 mag +5->inv 95-12-08 KJ 57 84-109 B ! 140x 15360/C1 Kosmos 1605: continues to accelerate ! 95-11-08 MM 14.3 7-inv, ssm 95-11-13 MM 14.0 4-8, ssm 95-11-15 KJ 13.5 85- 94 G ! 20 16144/F2 Tsyklon K1690-1695: last obs dp ? 95-12-15 MM 33.5 6-8 95-12-20 MM 33.0 5-inv 95-12-24 MM 33.3 sm 85-116 B ! 110 16369/C1 Kosmos 1709: last obs S 95-02-21 LB 7.70 AA, mag 4->5 95-07-24 JVS S 95-07-24 KD S 87- 49 B ! 23 18096/C1 Kosmos 1850: acceleration predicted by KJ and confirmed 95-12-24 KJ 30 long max, sa 95-12-27 KJ 20.0 sa in the beginnin 96-01-09 PM 6 87- 98 B ! 34 18586/C1 Kosmos 1898: still going down ? 95-09-23 MM 25.5 4-6.5 95-09-26 MM 26.0 4.5-7.5, ssm 95-12-05 MM 23 3.5-5 88- 53 B ! 77 19257/C1 Kosmos 1954: new, same remark as 92-36B 95-04-02 RO one minute ? 96-01-09 PM 5.70 96-01-09 PM 5.7 90-111 B ! 30 21015/C1 Kosmos 2112: period decreasing again ? 95-09-24 MM 11.4 6-8.5 95-11-14 MM 11.0 4-6.5 95-11-24 MM 9.44 5-inv 91- 59 B ! 171 21667/C1 Kosmos 2154: going down ? to be checked ! 95-10-10 WN 26.2 C* 2154 r 95-10-20 MM 25.5 4.5-7.5 95-10-21 TC 24.2 FF, mag +3.5 92- 8 B ! 118x 21876/C1 Kosmos 2180: still going down ! 95-12-24 KJ 18.8 95-12-27 KJ 18.8 95-12-28 WV 19.0 92- 12 B ! 101 21903/C1 Kosmos 2181: last info: accelerting acc to KJ and LB 96-01-05 MM 4.13 4.5-inv 96-01-07 KJ 4.10 ssm, sm somet brig 96-01-15 TC 4.04 FF, mag +4 92- 20 B ! 161 21938/C1 Kosmos 2184: no change 95-10-08 MM 46 5-9 95-10-28 LB 44.4 AA, mag 5->inv 95-11-05 LB 40.9 AA, mag 5->inv 92- 36 B ! 85 22007/C1 Kosmos 2195: new, acceleration predicted by KJ ! 96-01-09 MM 2.350 4-inv 96-01-09 PM 2.38 96-01-15 TC 2.42 FF, mag +3 94- 74 B ! 52 23343/J1 Zenit Resurs 1-3: first Zenit to have an acceleration ! 95-09-26 RE 3 95-09-27 RE 2.88 95-10-01 RE 2.9 Cheers, Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net) & Bart De Pontieu (bdp@mpe.mpe-garching.mpg.de)