Gorizont 23 / 21533
Jason Hatton (jason.hatton@etss.u-strasbg.fr)
Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:26:17 +0000
Last night the clouds finally cleared & I had my first chance to observe
Gorizont 23. I initially aquired it in 10x50 binoculars & then watched
more closely with my 6" newtonian telescope between 21:45 & 22:15.
Unfortunately, I didn't think to make any accurate flash period
measurements. The only timing I took was over two flashes & gave a
period of 50s. Each flash lasted about 1s & reached c.a. 6th Mag. If the
weather clears up again I'll have a go at making a more accurate timing
for the people who can make use of these flash measurments.
When I was searching for Gorizont 23 with binoculars I spotted a
flashing object in the correct area which initially took for Gorizont.
However, subsequently after observing Gorizont for a while in the
telescope I realised that what I had initially saw couldn't have been
Gorizont. It flashed irregularly up to 5-6th Mag with 5-10s between
flashes & showed slow, but perceptable motion to the east in binoculars
(perhaps 1 deg / minute). Unfortunately I didn't note the time (thinking
I was seeing Gorizont), but the observation must of been between 21:30 &
21:35 UT, 25-Feb-98. The object moved on a trajectory roughly parallel &
about 1deg S. of 23 Mon & zeta-Mon. (ie. in the same area where Gorizont
was at the time) Anybody any ideas what this might be? Sorry for the
lack of precision in these obs. - at the time I was only planning on
just trying to find Gorizont (in fact I was planning on an early night
before the sky cleared!).
Best Wishes & clear skies,
Jason P Hatton
INSERM U311
ETS Strasbourg
67065 Strasbourg Cedex
France
48.538N / 7.731 E 146m