PegSat decay alert

Matson, Robert (ROBERT.D.MATSON@cpmx.saic.com)
Wed, 11 Nov 1998 16:18:53 -0800

Hi Everyone,

I want to thank Alan for his latest posting about the imminent decay
of Pegsat (#20546, 90-028A).  For those in California, we have a
small chance of seeing this reentry on Friday night, Nov. 13th at
around 6 pm PST.  (Alan's predicted reentry is for Nov. 13th at 9pm
PST +/- 12 hours).  Using the last SATEVO element set in his
posting, the culmination for Los Angeles would be almost 75 degrees
up in the west at 6:01:50 pm, with the satellite moving right to left
through the constellation Cygnus.  The predicted altitude is only
90 nautical miles.  It will not be sunlit, so in order to be visible it
will have to actually be decaying.

For San Diego, culmination is about 45 degrees above the west
at 6:02:05 pm PST about 8 degrees to the lower left of Vega.

For Santa Barbara, culmination is about 60 degrees above the *east*
at 6:01:45, very close to Alpheratz.  From this location the satellite
moves left to right.

For San Francisco, the pass is much lower in the east -- about
22 degrees -- at 6:01pm.  The track goes just under Saturn.  It's
a little better from San Jose -- up to 25 degrees, about 1 degree
above Saturn at 6:01:10.   Sacramento is a little higher still in
the east -- 27 degrees at 6:00:50.

For Fresno, the culmination is 50 degrees above the east at 6:01:10,
7 degrees below Alpheratz.

If it does reenter at this time, you can be sure that many thousands
of people will see it!  --Rob