X-37B OTV-1: standard visual magnitude from observations

From: Ted Molczan (ssl3molcz@rogers.com)
Date: Tue Jun 01 2010 - 03:26:52 UTC

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    I have analyzed the 24 positional observations reported to-date that include
    visual magnitude. Here is a plot of magnitude normalized to 1000 km range
    vs. phase angle:
    
    http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/misc/10015A_std_mag.pdf
    
    The standard magnitude is 4.6 +/- 1 (1000 km, 90 deg phase angle).
    Coefficient of phase is 0.0082 mag/deg.
    
    This result is similar to the 4.8 standard magnitude I estimated pre-launch
    from the object's known dimensions.
    
    The object reaches magnitude 2.5 +/- 1 when observed at high elevation, and
    well illuminated.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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