More on the 2000 SG344 & J002E3 controversy. I dug up the following old link on 2000 SG344. Link still works: http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast06nov_2.htm I don't believe they were able to measure any IR colorimetry data on 2000 SG344 before it moved out of range. Back in November 2000, Seesat member Ralph McConahy informed me that they attempted to radar it from Arecibo but got no returns. Another Seesat member, Mike Waterman, actually observed the Apollo 12 3rd stage in question on Nov. 14th, 1969, from 20:42 - 20:56 UT (as well as its fuel dump). This is what he wrote: "Some of the time only the fuel was visible. At 2043 the rocket was flashing max mag 8, period 2.5s. The range was 29000 km. I do not have RA/dec at 2043, but it would only move a few degrees until 2057 when RA=20:09 Dec=8.6 (epoch 1950). At 2055 it was flashing max mag 9. Site = COSPAR 2428 = 51.3136N -0.7417E." He used his measurement to compute a standard magnitude of +0.2, and I came up with the same value. The photometry and phase geometry of 2000 SG344 corresponded to a standard magnitude of 2.0, assuming it was a lambertian sphere or a lambertian cylinder viewed broadside. If 2000 SG344 was indeed the Apollo 12 upper stage, then it's probable that its orientation was not "broadside" as seen from earth, which would result in a dimmer computed standard magnitude. So the difference between Mike's measurement of +0.2 and the +2.0 computed for 2000 SG344 is well within the envelop of a match, especially when you factor in 30 years of degradation in the reflectivity of the paint. So the $64,000 question is: If J002E3 is really the Apollo 12 3rd stage, then is there anything else manmade and unaccounted for that is bright enough to be a match to 2000 SG344? If not, then it must be an asteroid, in an orbit very similar to that of the earth. --Rob ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Sep 23 2002 - 16:05:44 EDT