BS-3A (Yuri 3A) & Raduga 33
Matson, Robert (ROBERT.D.MATSON@cpmx.saic.com)
Fri, 26 Feb 1999 13:53:53 -0800
Hi All,
Both of these satellites are great flashers! Peak flashes
from Yuri 3A were mag +2! The odd thing about this satellite,
though, is that if the period is really around 88 seconds,
then I could only see every third flash with binoculars.
This makes me wonder if the true rotational period is
263.54 seconds (I measured 7 flash periods in 1844.80 secs)?
I need to take a look at a diagram of the satellite to see
if it has triangular symmetry. Seems a bit unlikely.
Anybody know what a GE 3000 bus looks like?
The other thing that was so remarkable was the shortness
of each flash -- much, much shorter than Gorizont 14,
despite the slower rotation rate. The surface causing the
glints must be *highly* specular.
Raduga 33 was an easy target -- it was practically at
zenith when I was timing it. Got 13 flash periods in
221.24 seconds for a period of 17.018 +/- .008 seconds.
Brightest flashes were magnitude +3. I want to thank
Richard Keen for turning me on to this flasher!
PPAS format:
BS-3A (Yuri 3A), #20771
90- 77A 99-02-26 06:47:01.3 RM 1844.80 0.15 7 263.54 mag +2 --> inv
Raduga 33, #23794
96- 10A 99-02-26 07:10:49.1 RM 221.24 0.1 13 17.018 mag +3 --> inv