I initially expected the task of identifying a two satellite formation (linear with one trailing the other) to be a simple task due to the limited number of potential candidates but I am struggling to make the ID using HA. Perhaps someone with a spare moment can show me the proper way to use HA to make an identification in situations like this. >From my location at N40.2730 W105.3560 elevation 2073m on June 2, 2010 I observed one satellite trailing another at what appeared to be a fixed separation about 1.6 degrees when the azimuth angle was 70 degrees. The pair were first observed at an azimuth angle of 60 degrees and elevation around 35 degrees at about 12:22 AM MDT moving at a rate of 3.4 degrees every 10 seconds. The pair were last observed at an azimuth angle of 100 degrees and elevation of 22 degrees at about 12:25 AM MDT. My time accuracy is no better than +/-1 minute and elevation angle uncertainty is at least +/-5 degrees. Both objects appeared to have equal brightness when observed through Nikon 10x50 binoculars but were not visible with the unaided eye at the 35 degree elevation point. The object brightness reduced to the threshold of visibility through these binoculars at the 100 degree azimuth angle. Sorry for the poor quality data, I was not expecting to make an observation so I was unprepared. My sincerest thanks to everyone who can explain why I cannot make an identification with HA. Best regards, Chris Zietkiewicz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/private/seesat-l/attachments/20100602/ef9176db/attachment.html _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
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