GSTAR 3 flash observations

From: Stephen D LaLumondiere (Stephen.D.LaLumondiere@aero.org)
Date: Thu Mar 02 2000 - 11:50:39 PST

  • Next message: nixj@bellsouth.net: "Obs Mar. 2"

    Hello,
    
    In January I had a conversation with Ed Cannon about two bright, 
    near-geosynch flashers that I had observed.  My apologies for not sharing it 
    with everyone here.
    
    >On Saturday, January 8 (18:45 PST), I set up the 10x50's on a tripod to look 
    at Gorizont >23.  In addition, I found two others nearby flashing, and nearly 
    as bright.  The first >was about 2 deg. E. of, and 1-2 deg. above Gorizont 
    23.  I timed four flashes from this >one for a period of about 145 seconds.  
    I spotted the other sat just 1-2 degrees E. of >and at the same approx. el. 
    as Gorizont 23.  I only saw a few flashes from this one, but >one period was 
    roughly 63 seconds (give or take).  Flashes from both were seen between 
    >18:50 and 19:10 PST.
    
    Ed identified the most likely candidates as GSTAR 1 (15677, 1985-035A) and 
    GSTAR 3 (19483, 1988-081A) with Highfly. I later found the same with Skymap.  
    
    Monday evening (00-02-28) around 21:15 PST, I observed one bright flash where 
    GSTAR 3 should have been, but no additional flashes were seen during the next 
    3 to 3 1/2 min.  Around 21:45 (PST) I looked again, saw another, and no more 
    in the same 3 to 3 1/2 min. 
    
    Last night (00-03-01 local) I decided to patiently wait this one out.  Using 
    10 x 50's I sat and waited for it to appear.  About five minutes passed and 
    there it was, a nice bright (close to mag. 4) flash.  I clicked on each 
    additional flash thereafter:
    
    elapsed:  07:13.0
    	    04:48.0
    	    02:25.0
     	    04:48.3
    	    02:24.8
    	    02:24.1
    	    04:49.0
    	    04:48.4
    	    04:48.4
    	    02:24.9
    	    04:48.4
    	    04:48.6 ending time 22:01:15 UTC.
    
    It seems to have the same basic period that I observed in January.  Not all 
    of the expected flashes were visible (i.e. > mag 7.5).  
      
    88- 81 A 00-03-01 06:01:15  SDL 3321.6 9.9  23 144, vm, mag 4->inv.
    
    Best wishes.
    Steve LaLumondiere	 33.8202, -118.3165
    
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