Re: Query about visibility of Sputnik I

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Robert Sheaffer wrote:
> 
> Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic Magazine, makes the following comment
> about a forthcoming film purporting to tell how seeing the Sputnik launched
> the career of the "Rocket Boys." In it he has a question about the
> visibility of Sputnik I. What was the magnitude of that object? I remember
> how everyone had these little skywatch telescopes to look for it, but don't
> know whether or not they were really necessary. When Sputnik II was
> launched, wasn't it much larger and brighter?

The first sat I saw was Sputnik 3 Rocket so I didn't actually see either
of these.  As I recall, Sputnik 1 itself was only about mag 6.  What most
people saw was actually the mag 2 rocket.  Sputnik 2, attached to the
rocket, would have been as bright as S1 Rk.
I recall Sp 3 Rk was flashing but I neglected to make a PPAS report. Sorry.

-- 
Jay Respler
--
           JRespler@superlink.net 
 Sky Views:  http://njsurf.com/skyviews/
Satellite Tracker * Early Typewriter Collector
           Freehold,  New Jersey

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