Orion 3 Rk Obs (probably)
Sue Worden (worden@freeside.fc.net)
Wed, 5 May 1999 21:20:15 -0500 (CDT)
Thanks to a tip from Ed Cannon, I just observed what I believe
was the Orion 3 Rk (99 24B / 25728), peak magnitude about +1.0,
one-power in light polluted skies with Polaris barely visible.
It had a yellow-orangish color in 10x50 binoculars, much like
Mars, but more pale.
I could not find either a leading or trailing object. Given
the brightness, I assume that what I saw was the rocket body,
not the payload.
--Sue Worden (worden@fc.net)
> Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 20:05:01 -0500
> From: Ed Cannon <ecannon@mail.utexas.edu>
> Subject: Orion 3 and its Delta 3 tonight
> [ ... ]
> 30.314 97.866 920. BCRC, Austin, Texas 1950 6.0 22 F F T T T
> *** 1999 May 5 Wed evening *** Times are PM CDT *** 2057 559
> H M S Tim Al Azi C Dir Mag Dys F Hgt Shd Rng EW Phs R A Dec
> 25727 Orion 3 99 24A
> 9 7 22 .0 54 191 C 266 19.2 0 9 269 170 328 2.8 70 10 2 -5.4
> 25728 Orion 3 Rk 99 24B 3.0 Delta 3
> 9 7 56 .0 54 190 C 266 2.2 0 9 268 168 326 2.9 70 10 3 -5.1