Foton 12 R/B and Raduga 33r

Dr. Stephen Bolton (sbolton@nbnet.nb.ca)
Sat, 25 Sep 1999 14:50:03 -0300 

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Greetings,

Ted Molczan's post concerning my Aug 1996 observation of Raguda 33r led =
me to dig our the posts from that obs. I would like to add a few points.

At the time of that obs I was a newbe to sat obs, but had 30 years of =
amateur astronomy experience. I was using STS-Plus - not the most  =
accurate program!

My latitude is 45.432 N , long 65.976 W.

The STS-Plus prediction was based on an Allan Pickup elset for 232.0247. =
As observed the time was accurate to within a minute. Also the path =
(thru U. Maj.) was easy to compare to the predicted and no deviation was =
visible to the naked eye.

The predicted perigee was 100 km for that elset.

What I saw was a rapidly moving red object of -2 to -3 mag. Through =
binoculars (not with unaided vision) a 3-4 degree tail was visible. =
However it was fairly bright twilght with the stars of U. Maj. just =
visible.

As Mr. Molczan indicated by observation occured at 96233.03265. Here is =
an elset which Molczan provided in a reply to my post. I am typing this =
so spacing may not be correct!

Ragula 33 SL-12 r2
1  23797U  96010D    96233.01776407   .97557836   28856+0   16460-2  0  =
92774
2  23797    47.6011  201.6498  1165766  74.4749  298.0744  13.84811729   =
 5380

As he also points out, the object probably survived this perigee pass, =
and therein lies heartache. It was predicted to pass again on its next =
rev in a nice dark sky, and I didn't know! Ever since I lurk, run the =
decayers and low perigee sats from McCants files and wait. using Element =
Manager and Satspy these days. A decay or a perigee pass through the =
upper atmosphere is a spectacular event! Keep looking up! ( Hope Jack =
Horkheimer hasn't copyrighted that).

Steve Bolton.
Gondola Point, NB.
Canada
Lat 45.432N
Long. 65.976 W=20

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Greetings,
 
Ted Molczan's post concerning my Aug 1996 = observation=20 of Raguda 33r led me to dig our the posts from that obs. I would like to = add a=20 few points.
 
At the time of that obs I was a newbe to sat = obs, but=20 had 30 years of amateur astronomy experience. I was using STS-Plus - not = the=20 most  accurate program!
 
My latitude is 45.432 N , long 65.976 = W.
 
The STS-Plus prediction was based on an Allan = Pickup=20 elset for 232.0247. As observed the time was accurate to within a = minute. Also=20 the path (thru U. Maj.) was easy to compare to the predicted and no = deviation=20 was visible to the naked eye.
 
The predicted perigee was 100 km for that=20 elset.
 
What I saw was a rapidly moving red object of = -2 to -3=20 mag. Through binoculars (not with unaided vision) a 3-4 degree tail was = visible.=20 However it was fairly bright twilght with the stars of U. Maj. just=20 visible.
 
As Mr. Molczan indicated by observation = occured at=20 96233.03265. Here is an elset which Molczan provided in a reply to my = post. I am=20 typing this so spacing may not be correct!
 
Ragula 33 SL-12 r2
1  23797U  96010D    = 96233.01776407   .97557836   28856+0  =20 16460-2  0  92774
2  23797   =20 47.6011  201.6498  1165766  74.4749  = 298.0744 =20 13.84811729    5380
 
As he also points out, the object probably = survived=20 this perigee pass, and therein lies heartache. It was predicted to pass = again on=20 its next rev in a nice dark sky, and I didn't know! Ever since I lurk, = run the=20 decayers and low perigee sats from McCants files and wait. using Element = Manager=20 and Satspy these days. A decay or a perigee pass through the upper = atmosphere is=20 a spectacular event! Keep looking up! ( Hope Jack Horkheimer hasn't = copyrighted that).
 
Steve Bolton.
Gondola Point, NB.
Canada
Lat 45.432N
Long. 65.976 = W 
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