Ofeq 3 decay watch

From: Matson, Robert (ROBERT.D.MATSON@saic.com)
Date: Mon Oct 23 2000 - 14:12:44 PDT

  • Next message: bruce_musson@dofasco.ca: "RE: Shuttle landing"

    Hi All,
    
    I figured it wouldn't be long before Alan posted info on the
    imminent decay of Ofeq 3.  A few weeks back I realized that if
    this satellite's reentry is seen, it has the potential to fool
    the lucky observer into thinking it's a fireball rather than a
    satellite, thanks to the east-to-west motion of this satellite
    from low-to-mid latitudes.  This is one of only about two dozen
    objects (out of the list of 8200+) that is strongly retrograde,
    and the only one expected to reenter within the next year or so.
    
    The 143.3 degree inclination means the reentry will occur
    somewhere between 36.7 south and 36.7 north latitude.  As usual,
    this favors the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but it also means
    that many consecutive passes occur within range of each ground
    point in the 30-40 degree latitude range.  Thus it should be
    visible as a sunlit nighttime object from some locations in the
    hours prior to decay.  For example, it will make a dim pass
    visible from San Diego on Tuesday evening at ~6:42pm PDT (1:42UT,
    10/25).  This is within the current reentry window.
    
    --Rob
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe'
    in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org
    http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Oct 23 2000 - 14:15:32 PDT