Some tumblers
Ed Cannon (ecannon@mail.utexas.edu)
Thu, 08 Oct 1998 03:30:50 -0400
Wednesday evening, 8 Oct UTC. Location 30.321N, 97.773W, 270 meters.
98-53K/25484 ["Pegasus R/B (2)"], observed in binoculars, was flashing
-- quick, sharp maxima perhaps +4, very faint to invisible between.
Very rough estimate of period, maybe 20-40 seconds. Culmination was
2:03:47.
90-78B/20775 ["Cosmos 2098 Rk"], one-power (+3.5?), tumbling slowly.
Very rough estimate of period, maybe 40-60 seconds? Culmination was
1:49:50.
89-97B/20362 ["Navstr 2-5 Rk" or "GPS 2-05 r1"], seemed to be varying,
enough that I wrote a "t" by the prediction. But it may have been a
phase effect, as the pass was WNW to east. Culmination: 1:35:26.
Tuesday evening, 30 Sept. UTC. Location 29.400N, 98.660W, 180 meters
(San Antonio, Texas).
92-94A/22286 ["Cosmos 2228"]. Maximum, flash, flash. Saw at least
two full periods, one-power then binoculars. Culmination was 1:20:38.
I noted these (meaningless?) times of three maxima: 1:20:56, 1:21:23,
1:22:35. I'm pretty sure this is one that's been known to do two
very bright flashes near culmination on evening passes high in the
east.
Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA