Last evening, using 10x50 binoculars, I finally glimpsed the
"Floating Potential Probe" (28896/00-078B) that was released
by the ISS earlier. It made a very rapid pass near Mars and
was varying irregularly with a maximum brightness approximately
6.7 mag (i.e. brighter than HD015227 7.24 mag and fainter than
27 Ari's 6.21). At that point, 2005 12 30/22:46:59 UTC +/- 2 secs,
it was at a range of some 381 km with an astronomical phase
angle of 59degs, corresponding to a "quicksat" intrinsic magnitude
of about +8.3 (and a [Matson's] Skymap standard magnitude of +9.3.
In IOD format, the observation was:
28896 00 078B 8840 G 20051230224659000 58 M+067 05
At this time, I want to wish all SeeSat-ers a very happy 2006 filled
with clear and dark skies!
Ed Light
Lakewood, NJ, USA
Site 8840, N 40.1075, W 074.2312, +24 m (80 ft)
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