shuttle and mir
richard.keen@filebank.com
Sun, 31 Mar 96 16:49:04
Hi Y'all - here's a summary of my observations of the STS 76
mission, with observed magnitudes following an abbreviated
Quicksat output for each pass. I, too, saw Mir and Atlantis pass
very close (about 4 degrees above) that hairy star in the
northern skies, but, sorry Phil - I didn't get any photos!
Because of its low northern altitude, I had to get up on my roof
(which has snow on it), and, clinging to an antenna, observe the
procession. Shoot me if you wish, but better that than sliding
off the roof into the dog kennel!
39.8767 105.3910 8950. Coal Creek Canyon, CO
H M S Al AziC Dir Mag Dys Hgt Shd Rng
Mar 23 Sat UT 2 3 1213
11 6 18 33 16 125 -.6 1 247 18 429 Mir mag. 2
11 18 42 23 9 111 -.2 0 194 13 452 STS 76 mag. 0
Mar 28 Thu UT 2 8 12 4
11 16 33 11 352C 90 1.8 7 247 94 859 Mir/Atlantis mag. 2
Mar 31 Sun UT 211 1159
11 41 54 13 14C 90 1.8 1 245 211 793 STS 76 mag. 4
11 43 28 13 14C 90 1.7 3 247 215 789 Mir mag. 3
Atlantis seems extraordinarily faint during the 1141 UT pass
this morning, but that was its last orbit before landing at
Edwards, so the payload bays were closed, and, perhaps, the dark
tiles were facing me.
Dan Lazslo's comments about the STS 74 Atlantis-Mir mission are
interesting, since I also observed the pass at 1242 UT on
November 18, 1995, from Colorado (about half a degree of latitude
south of Dan). Here's my observations of what I saw, rather than
what I expected, but first, an abbreviated Quicksat output:
MIR/STS-74 1995
Date H M Al AziC Mag
95/11/18 1241 21 218 -.1
95/11/18 1243 66 142C -2.0
95/11/18 1245 21 62 .8
The preceding object was magnitude 0, the following object
definitely brighter at magnitude -1. The separation was 2
degrees as the objects rose in the southwest, 4 degrees at
culmination, and closing again as the objects set in the east.
It seemed that overall, the trailing object was (apparently)
catching up to the leading object, suggesting that the trailing
object was lower. The catching up effect could have been due to
the changing perspective rather than to a greater orbital
velocity. I took a series of photos, but none are at the same
elevations "coming" and "going", so I can't say for sure whether
the objects were actually closing in.
As for which object was which, my visual impression was that the
trailing brighter object was Atlantis, but, of course, this
couldn't be, I figured, so in my log I put it down as Mir.
Perhaps it was what it appeared to be - Atlantis following Mir!
Also, Dan, congratulations on your sighting of the STS-63
Discovery re-entry on Feb 11, 1995. All I saw were re-entering
snow flakes. I wish I had gone out to hear the sonic boom, but
it was so early and so cold....
Ah, but I did see the re-entry of STS-73 Columbia on November 5,
1995. Max elevation was only 12 degrees, but it reached
magnitude -2 and left an ion trail from horizon to horizon. Of
course, it was the picture on my photo Christmas card last year!
cheers, Rich (richard.keen@filebank.com)