Fun one-power conjunctions
Ed Cannon (ecannon@mail.utexas.edu)
Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:26:22 -0600
Saturday night (early on 14 Feb. 1999) several of us were
fortunate enough to observe a very nice one-power event.
GPS 2-26 Rk (23954, 96-41B) was in the NE nearing the end
of a good pass when it and the southbound Cosmos 1242 Rk
(12155, 81-8B) crossed within about 9 or 10 degrees at
about 1:44:20-24. Then some seconds later Cosmos 1242 Rk
and the *north*bound Cosmos 1943 Rk (19120, 88-39B)
crossed. All three were easy one-power (mag. +2 or so)
and were all visible together, traveling in three
different directions.
Another fun phenomenon that occurred twice within a
couple of nights a few weeks ago was a bright satellite
adding a fourth star to the "belt" of Orion. Each time
the fourth "star" was lined up perfectly above the three
real stars. One night it was Hubble Space Telescope, but
I don't remember now which one it was on the other night.
We also had a really great -8 Iridium flare Saturday
night. This was at a star party, and quite a few people
were looking for it. (By the way, Florida Today's
Extended Launch Schedule lists a planned launch of five
more Iridiums for May 24.)
Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA