Re: Satellite Structure

Jason Hatton (JRBURCA@aol.com)
Thu, 23 Jul 1998 04:48:38 EDT 

In a message dated 98-07-22 18:42:56 EDT, Terry Pundiak wrote:

<< This reference is interesting to me - I once saw a black filled circle
 pass in front of the moon - it was in sharp focus and moved about as
 fast as satellites do and it was the size of Messier's crater ( a tiny
 crater).  I bet it was a satellite... but my question is has anyone ever
 seen a satellite pass in front of the moon - confirmed with software? 
 Any software that would predict such transits? >>

Maybe it was a satellite.  But, although I don't want to burst your
bubble, it might have been a weather balloon or some other sort of
balloon.  One of the more expert types on this list (Rob Matson I think)
once commented that there are a lot more balloons up there than most
realize and probably accounts for most of those lunar and solar transits.
In my telescopic observations of the Moon and Sun, I've seen things go
quickly across my field of view.  At first, I thought they were satellites,
but 
later concluded they were more likely high flying birds (real birds), or 
perhaps balloons in some cases.  High flying airplanes are easier to 
recognize.
 
I try to save some of the more interesting posts in my own text files.
I was able to find Craig Cholar's post from almost a year ago about 
seeing Mir through a telescope:

****************************
Subj:    Very close Mir pass tracked at 80 power
Date:   97-08-19 06:30:16 EDT
From:   3432P@VM1.CC.NPS.NAVY.MIL
To:     SeeSat-L@cds.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de

I managed, with a little difficulty, to track Mir at 80 power through
a 4.5 inch newtonian.  Mir passed overhead 243 miles up (391km), only
1.6 degrees from the zenith.  I could just make out some solar panel
stucture.  It looked somewhat like a biplane in appearance, though
the glare from the panels and the speed of the pass made viewing
difficult.  I did keep it in the field of view for about 40 seconds or
so, but it sure jumped around in the 1/2 degree field.

That was the kind of pass a computer-controlled mount was made for.

Craig Cholar

*************************************

Finally, I just want to reiterate about the URL Geoff Chester mentions:
<<  Ron Dantowitz at the Museum of Science in Boston
(http://www.mos.org/shuttle/shuttle-page.html) has obtained some striking
images
of the Shuttle and Mir using a 12-inch Meade SCT on the roof of the Museum. >>

If you haven't taken a look at those images, please do.  They are quite 
remarkable showing what can be done with expertise and state-of-the-art
equipment.....but all available to anyone with the bucks.  As I remember,
I believe some of these pictures were taken during a daylight pass.

-- Jake Rees
   Burbank, California USA