This is my 4th attempt to send this message, the three previous attempts failed to reach SeeSat-L via my normal e-mail... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Kurt Jonckherre wrote, > >during May 1999, Gorizont 23 = 91- 46 A = 21533 was >observed regularly by different European Observers. >They found that the period of this near-geostationary >object was increasing almost perfectly linear from >day to day. >During June it was only observed by Mike McCants who >could still confirm the linear increase. >Unfortenately no observations have been made since then. >Who makes the next observation ? I tried to observe Gorizont 23 yesterday evening (12th June 1999) between 20:25 & 20:50UT. Observing conditions were rather poor, with a lot of haze resulting in a limiting magnitude of only +8 to +9 in my 6" scope. Unfortunately I only saw a few faint sporadic flashes & not with enough certainty to make a timing. Based on my experience of observing this object last year it appears that the brightness of Gorizont 23 may vary throughout the year. I seem to remember during July of last year Gorizont was also relatively faint, but still bright enough to be seen in through my telescope. I would be interested to know if any other observers have noted the approximate flash brightness of Gorizont 23 over several months, since it might provide clues as to the orientation & precession of the spin axis. Another interesting geoflasher which is well placed for European observers is Raduga 27 (21132/91-014A). I observed this satellite for several weeks following its discovery by Rainer Kresken. The flash period of this satellite was continuing to accelerate up to my last observation a couple of weeks ago, with the period down to 76.17s on the 16-Jun-1999 at 21:05UT (compared to 92s at the time of its discovery). Unfortunately, sometime between 20:50UT 16-Jun-1999 & 21:05UT 20-Jun-1999 the satellite appeared to stop flashing. Rainer Kresken in a private e-mail indicated that Raduga 27 appeared to stop flashing about a week before the flashes stopped at my site. Also in the days prior to the satellite becoming invisible the brightness of the flashes faded quite considerably. Since Rainer is further north than I am, it would appear that the path of flash visibility is moving south. Therefore, it would be interesting to see if any observers at more southern latitudes manage to spot this geoflasher. Here is a recent TLE for Raduga 27 RADUGA 27 1 21132U 91014A 99179.32993443 .00000147 00000-0 00000+0 0 2462 2 21132 5.1999 67.5267 0002475 193.2678 166.5255 1.00209926 30531 Futher details of the flash characteristics of Gorizont, Raduga & Ekran satellites can be found at; http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/1668/gorizont.htm Best wishes, Jason Hatton 43.692N, 7.246E,30M (43d41'29"N,7d14'47"E,30m) http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/1668/high-alt.htm ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com