Re: Cosmos 2321 R: Should I have seen it?
Alan Pickup (alan@wingar.demon.co.uk)
Thu, 13 Mar 1997 23:11:43 +0000
In message <199703132154.OAA09769@jerry.pcisys.net>, Ron Lee
<ronlee@pcisys.net> writes
>>>97072.11 would be 2:38UT. Watch out Houston!
>>>
>>>My numerical integration comes up with a slightly later time.
>
>I was observing about 2.5 minutes either side of its predicted
>low elevation (18 deg) pass at 02:39 UT, 13 Mar. I did use
>binoculars and scanned a little cross track. I saw nothing.
>
>Could this be because it decayed earlier or the time delta or cross
>track error were higher than I allowed for?
>
>I am in Colorado and the pass was to the east of me (towards Houston?)
I doubt if the time difference was more than a few seconds but the cross
track error could have been several degrees depending on its height at the
time. It was good that you observed - it was a close call.