Visibility of 96072A

Bjoern Gimle (b_gimle@algonet.se)
Wed, 15 Jan 1997 22:47:54 +0100 (MET)

I ran SkyMap to check how the transfer of USA-129, 96072A
opportunities from Ian and Shari Porter to me would progress.
I set an arbitrary reference magnitude of 4.0, a solar depression
of 4.0 degrees, and a min. "culmination" of 10 degrees.

With a visual magnitude limit of 5.5, we will overlap on Feb.06.

My first pass over 40 degrees will be on Feb.18, and over 80 degrees
on Feb.23 and 27, but the magnitude will improve only slightly
(because apogee is moving closer?)

I haven't seen any mail from Leo Wikholm of (southern) Finland, but
I believe he has friends i northern Finland who will have chances
before me, wheather permitting.

                      Tracking site:  Ian Porter
                           Timezone:  +10.0 hours
                       Report times:  UTC
                           Latitude:  -38.3745 
                          Longitude:  +144.8070 
                           Altitude:     +5.0 meters

            Start of Track     Peak Elevation  
  Date     Time   Azim Elev   Time   Azim Elev VMag Cat # Satellite Name
-------- -------- ---- ---- -------- ---- ---- ---- ----- --------------
 2/ 5/97 12:29:28 170   0   12:32:55 174  18    5.4 24680 USA 129 
 2/ 6/97 12:56:52 179   0   13:00:07 198  14    6.1 24680 USA 129 
 2/ 8/97 12:14:24 165   0   12:16:40 161  10    5.7 24680 USA 129 
 2/ 9/97 12:41:35 174   0   12:43:48 181  10    6.2 24680 USA 129 


		      Tracking site:  Tyres",Sweden 109731m E, 66897 m N
                           Timezone:   +1.0 hours
                       Report times:  UTC
                           Latitude:  +59.2237 
                          Longitude:   +18.2286 
                           Altitude:    +44.0 meters

            Peak Elevation       End of Track
  Date     Time   Azim Elev   Time   Azim Elev VMag Cat # Satellite Name
-------- -------- ---- ---- -------- ---- ---- ---- ----- --------------
 2/ 6/97 18:24:22   5  10   18:27:00 349   0    5.5 24680 USA 129 
 2/ 7/97 18:51:33 358  11   18:54:19 347   0    5.8 24680 USA 129 
 2/ 8/97 17:40:54  22  10   17:44:36 350   0    5.3 24680 USA 129 
 2/ 9/97 18:08:02  18  13   18:11:54 348   0    5.3 24680 USA 129 
 2/11/97 19:02:15   1  20   19:06:21 346   0    5.9 24680 USA 129 

If I had a powerful telescope and a clear view, I could even
see a morning pass:

 2/14/97  5:53:18  35   0    5:57:24  66   4    6.8 24680 USA 129 

------------------------------------------------------------
-- b_gimle@algonet.se              +46-8-7428086  (home)  --
-- 59.22371 N, 18.22857 E           AND member of :       --
-- http://www.algonet.se/~b_gimle   seesat-l / seesat-d   --
-- bjorn@tt-tech.se                +46-8-59095783 (office)--
------------------------------------------------------------