Possible glint from C2227

ROB MATSON (ROBERT.D.MATSON@cpmx.saic.com)
8 Jun 1998 17:45:30 -0800

Aliendish wrote:

> While i was waiting for the flare of the Cosmos 2332 Rocket at 9:08:47pm
> EDT, AZ "South" , ELEVATION 200, I looked to the East at about 9:06pm
> or 9:07pm and saw a very bright flare at roughly Az 110 and alt 250. My
> location is Lat: 25.664 , Long: -80.3714, could someone please tell me
> what I saw? Thanks.

First off, are you sure you meant "flare" from Cosmos 2332 R/B?  Glints are
not predictable from this rocket body, nor really any rocket body.  As far as
I know, only the Iridium satellites and to a lesser degree some GEO and
near-GEO satellites have predictable glint times or periods.

By "ELEVATION 200" I assume you meant elevation 20 degrees.  Cosmos
2332 R/B was at this elevation angle in the south at roughly the time you
indicated.  Following this pattern, I assume by "Az 110 and alt 250" that
you meant altitude angle (i.e. elevation) 25 degrees.  If so, there was a
satellite (ordinarily a rather dim one) at precisely that location at 9:07:45 pm
EDT (June 7):  Cosmos 2227 (USSPACECOM #22284, COSPAR 92093A).
I have not observed this satellite before, but perhaps another observer out
there has.  The phase angle was pretty good for this pass, such that a
less than 10-degree misalignment of this satellite's solar panel(s) (assuming
it has them) would have yielded a nice specular glint.  --Rob