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)-- ------------------------------------------------------------