Observations Sun Eve: Gorizont 23 + others

Robert Sheaffer (sheaffer@netcom.com)
Mon, 26 May 1997 10:30:41 -0700

Observations 25 May 1997    (Sun Eve., 26 May UT)

04:09:24    Satellite seen in 7x50 binocs moving northwest near Gamma
            Leonis. Briefly glinted to mag 4, then faded. Believed to
            be #2122 OV1 5, predicted mag 7.5.

04:19       Approx. culmination of NOSS 2-3 r (#23907), running approx
            4 mins late.

04:23:15    Unexpected eastbound satellite mag 3.5, appulse w/Spica.
            Believed to be GPS 2-06r (#20453), predicted mag 5.9.

04:59:53.   First observed flash from geosync flasher
            Gorizont-23, #21533. Time of
            observation was selected randomly, to match when it
            passed near some bright stars. Kurt Jonckheere asked,
            "Is this Gorizont *always* flashing with mag +5.5 ?"
            The answer appears to be "yes!". (unlike Superbird A,
            whose flashes are brighter, with a faster period, of
            extremely brief duration, but only flashes for
            about seven minutes a day.)

            Mag of flash approx
            5 to 5.5, duration approx .5 sec. Timed 11 flashes
            in 9 mins 47 seconds, for a period of 53.36 seconds.
            Kurt measured a period of 53.456 secs on May 9, and
            also asked, "It seems that the period is going down slowly.  
            Is this an accelerating geostationary satellite ?" Again,
            the answer appears to be "Yes!".

05:44       Unexpected satellite, Mag 3, seen moving east near
            Arcturus. Possibly #22583, GPS 2-19r. If so, it is
            running about 2-3 minutes early. Predicted mag 4.4.



        Robert Sheaffer - robert@debunker.com - Skeptical to the Max!
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