Re: A flaring (mag -1.5) retrograde satellite to identify

From: Bjoern Gimle@GlocalNet (Gimle@GlocalNet)
Date: Thu Oct 23 2008 - 09:14:00 UTC

  • Next message: alain.figer@club-internet.fr: "Re: Re: A flaring (mag -1.5) retrograde satellite to identify"

    Flashmail
    IGS-1 rocket #27700 03-09C passed 3 degrees from Polaris (same side as the 
    SL-3 rocket) around 18:41:12
    
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    
     Hi all,
    
    Yesterday evening my attention was attracted at 18h 40.8 mn UT by a bright 
    satellite near Polaris, challenging its brightness, and descending due 
    North - slightly western to the north, the signature of a retrograde 
    satellite. Its crossing in the sky was about the same as that of Cosmos 405 
    rocket I just observed a few minutes before (near 18h34 UT).
    However the sense of the pass (SN) was just reversed, as Cosmos 405 rocket 
    (passing NS) is a 81.2° inclined satellite.
    Hence the estimated inclination of the retro satellite is to be roughly i 
    97°-98°.
    And it might have culminated  not far from ENE at altitude 72°-80°.
    
    Its brightness was increasing and it flared briefly at about mag -1.5 at 18h 
    41m 02s.
    
    Thanks for identifying this satellite, not listed in the H-A predictions for 
    my site (listing for mag better than 5.0), since its magnitude must have 
    been indicated as a mere  "?" by Chris Peat...
    
    
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