Re: Satellite crossing moon?

Robert Sheaffer (sheaffer@netcom.com)
Fri, 25 Jul 1997 13:55:43 -0700 (PDT) 

Bill Kahn
> 
> I believe I saw a satellite crossing the face of the nearly full moon.
> 
> Is this common? possible? ridiculous?
> 
> Details:
> 
> Observing nearly full moon on evening of July 17, 1997.
> Lat: N39.692  Lon: W75.567 (30 miles west of Philadelphia)
> Using 12.5" f4.84 Newtonian with 32mm Plossel eyepiece for 48x and 1*fov
> Time 10:32:50 EDT  (WWV checked watch)
> Observed: A black resolvable round circle, estimated at 10" diameter crossed
> from left           to right in the scope taking about 1 second to traverse
> the approximately 20'           of illuminated disk, approximately 5' below
> lunar equator.

I am not aware of any satellite, with the possible exception of Mir, that
would present such a large disk. And Mir isn't round. Even a large rocket
booster in orbit would be on the order of 1.5" apparent length.

I would suspect it was a balloon, high in the air.

        Robert Sheaffer - robert@debunker.com - Skeptical to the Max!
             my new GPS tells me I'm at 37 deg 17.3' N., 
                 121 deg 59.2' west (San Jose, CA) 

         Visit my Home Page - http://www.debunker.com/~sheaffer
          Skeptical Resources Debunking All Manner of Bogus Claims
               Also: Opera / Astronomy / Mens Issues / more