observations requested
Walter Nissen (dk058@cleveland.freenet.edu)
Tue, 21 Jul 1998 20:08:39 -0400 (EDT)
If
IRIDIUM 71
1 25320U 98026B 98201.19093201 +.00000748 +00000-0 +26012-3 0 00783
2 25320 086.3983 261.5144 0001512 029.2263 330.9010 14.34219868011348
is tumbling it will be visible over a much larger area than just Northern
Virginia, and at times other than when it might glint synodically. If
illuminated over you, you might check it out.
Cheers.
Walter Nissen dk058@cleveland.freenet.edu
-81.8637, 41.3735, 256m elevation
---
Why are there so many songs about unrequited love? Because if love is
requited there are so many more important things to do than write songs.
---
> Date: Tue Jul 21 17:14:29 1998
> From: guerber@boomerang.gsfc.nasa.gov (Jeff Guerber)
> Subject: Iridium Flare Observers Needed Tonight (fwd)
> To: <<< extremely long distribution list deleted >>>
> Cc: Mike_Mackowski-SC1426@email.mot.com
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I received the following from Mike Mackowski, of the Iridium
> project. They've lost contact with SV071 and would very much like
> visual observations from our area to get a handle on its attitude.
>
> I got predictions from the DLR web page for Alexandria,
> Winchester, and College Park (they were in its location database), and
> for each it said the flare should be visible around 11:36-11:37 at an
> altitude of about 20 degrees and an azimuth of 241 degrees. Even in
> Winchester and College Park (about equally on either side of the
> flare's center line) the peak magnitude is about -3.
>
> I'm sending this to the Goddard Astronomy Club and to various
> other people from NCA, NOVAC, the Greenbelt Astro Club, etc. for whom
> I have email addresses. Please forward it to anyone else who may be
> interested. Thank you,
>
> Jeff Guerber
> Goddard Astronomy Club
> jeff.guerber@gsfc.nasa.gov
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 13:29:36 -0700
> From: Mike Mackowski <Mike_Mackowski-SC1426@email.mot.com>
> To: jeff.guerber@gsfc.nasa.gov
> Subject: Iridium Flare Observers Needed Tonight
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm a former member of the GSFC Astronomy Club who is now working with
> Motorola (in Chandler, Arizona) on their Iridium program. We have a
> problem with one of our satellites (designated SV071) and need your
> help.
>
> This satellite is scheduled to "flare" tonight (Tuesday, July 21) at
> about 11:36 pm EDT. We'd like observers in the Northern Virginia area ,
> where the flare will be brightest, to relay their observations back to
> us. It should peak at about magnitude -5. From Leasburg, it will be
> low in the southwest. Punch up
>
> http://www.gsoc.dlr.de/satvis/
>
> to get details on where to look. Have your lat and long available. We
> are looking for info that would tell about the attitude of the
> satellite. If there is no flare at all, it might suggest the satellite
> is pointing way off and the reflective antennas won't produce a flare.
> If it pulses, the rate of the variations would tell us how much it is
> tumbling.
>
> Please send any observations back to me at this e-mail, or call in the
> morning at 602-732-3064.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike Mackowski