Iridiums observed in Poland 3 hours after launch
Marcin Podgorski (marcinp@nask.pl)
Mon, 18 May 1998 03:02:13 +0200
Hello!
There were two passes of recently Iridium satellites over my area, and
there is an upcoming one:
Date (UTC) Time (UTC) of Duration Azimuth at Peak
Vis Orbit
AOS MEL LOS of Pass AOS MEL LOS Elev
Sun 17May98 22:25:36 22:30:40 22:35:44 00:10:08 121 72 22 10.5
NVV 2
Mon 18May98 00:00:48 00:07:30 00:14:15 00:13:27 177 94 6 73.8*
NVV 3
01:39:58 01:45:45 01:51:40 00:11:41 231 291 352 16.2
NVV 4
First pass: MET 1h09m
On the first pass I saw nothing, because of the extreme light
pollution in the downtown of Warsaw and low peak elevation. It occured
exactly when the satellites were being deployed.
Second pass: MET 2h45m
Objects came out of the earth's shadow at 00:04:30 UTC. I have noticed
them just after the peak. All five satellites flared, passed by Vega
then became invisible. It was the most impressive satellite related
phenomenon I have ever seen. Beautiful!
Predictions were based on Ron Lee's prelaunch elset. Thanks Ron!
Iridium, Delta, 5/17/98, 21:15:56 UT
1 98765U 980XXA 98138.40157280 -.00378067 00000-0 -55178-1 0 12
2 98765 86.5706 256.3573 0009801 264.3271 95.7271 14.78175419 89
I am away from all my high-tech toys therefore there are no
timings,magnitudes etc.
MP
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