Fwd: Request for identification

From: Jill McDonald via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:04:17 -0400
Regarding Bev M Ewen-Smith's viewing

I also noticed this pair and I am not even close to Bev's location.  I noticed a satellite or pair out a window in my home crossing the sky from W about 260° when I saw it and then went outside to see it. It travelled extremely slowly towards the South at ballpark 60° degrees. This satellite may have continued on to Easterly direction as it did not travel towards the horizon but maintained the height.  I lost it due to houses at SSE 155° ballpark.  First noticed at 9:20 EST or UTC -4 at  45.1856 N  -67.2736 W.  The magnitude was brighter than the Moon by a number of degrees.  I had no constellations as twilight was  just ending and there was still sunset glow in the sky as well as an unusually high light pollution (seen later in the night).

I went through several collections of possible satellites in my area but none matched the dimensions or the speed. 

I was not expecting to see such a bright satellite so early out a window and was not prepared.  I am confirming Bev M Ewen-Smith's sighting that this satellite was unusual and asking for help identifying it. 

Jill McDonald



Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Bev M Ewen-Smith via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
> Date: July 17, 2018 at 12:33:47 PM EDT
> To: SeeSat-L_at_satobs.org
> Subject: Request for identification
> Reply-To: Bev M Ewen-Smith <bmes_at_coaa.co.uk>
> 
> Hi
> 
> Last night I noticed two satellites travelling line astern in a northerly direction very slowly directly through the "keystone" asterism of Hercules.  I checked my usual planetarium program with a current elset and nothing matched the observation.  Normally everything I can see, shows up.
> 
> Can anyone help identify them?
> 
> Date : 2018-07-16
> Time : 22:11 UTC (+/- a minute)
> Mag : 4 (approx)
> Observing site : N37° 11.4' W8° 36.0'
> Sorry that I didn't have a stopwatch or a camera with me.
> 
> I followed them for some time and they kept together - about 2° apart line astern - so they seemed to be genuinely co-orbital.
> 
> Thanks in advance
> Bev
> COAA
> 
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Received on Tue Jul 17 2018 - 15:05:10 UTC

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