RE: NOSS?

Ted Molczan (molczan@fox.nstn.ca)
Tue, 12 Nov 1996 03:07:37 -0500

Jeff Hunt, in response to David Chapman's question:

>Yes, it would appear that you observed the NOSS 6 group that travelled 
>NW to ESE on the date and time you mentioned.  My prediction program showed 
>the following objects passed near Alpha Aries at the times mentioned.

Just to make matters more confusing, the NOSS 2-3
group was in the same general direction at the same
time, and passed much closer to Aries than NOSS 6. 

The NOSS 2-x satellites are much larger and brighter 
than first generation NOSS, such as the NOSS 6 group. 
The former frequently reach naked-eye visibility; the 
latter only rarely. So I conclude that the most probable
identification was NOSS 2-3.

The NOSS 2-3 plane is only 8.5 deg east of the NOSS 6
plane, and they have nearly the same mean motion, so
both groups will be passing at the same time, on
parallel tracks, for some time.

Ted Molczan