TSS Sightings
Maley, Paul D. (PMALEY@GP808.jsc.nasa.gov)
Thu, 07 Mar 1996 11:27:06 -0600
I have just recently returned from Australia where I attempted observation
from Darwin during four days of favorable passes. However, the skies never
cleared. On Feb. 29 I flew to Cairns on the norhteast coast and finally
observed the TSS on March 1 at 0928 GMT. The moon was waxing and high phase
but the 76 degree elevation pass proved wonderful to see. The TSS satellite
was seen at about magnitude +2.5, the tether around +2.5 to +3. At the
bottom a bright spot, possibly corresponding to a ball of tether, could be
seen at around magnitude +5. Ranges varied from 350km to 640km.
On March 3 I flew to Ayers Rock, in central Australia to pick up two days of
good passes. TSS was sighted again on March 3 at 1015GMT from 150 km east of
Ayers Rock at a maximum elevation of 49 degrees. Four minutes of video were
recorded beginning with bright twilight and ending near an almost full moon.
The tether varied between 1.0 and 1.7 degrees in length which corresponds to
an apparent maximum length of 14.4 km. Finally on March 4 at 1041GMT TSS was
seen again, this time a tiny portion of tether at the "bottom" was seen as
lagging behind slightly with the bright spot tailing off at an angle. The
rest (about 90% or more of the length) appeared very linear and was observed
at magnitude +2.5 to +3.0 at a maximum elevation of 68 degrees. Observation
was conducted inside Uluru National park at the Ayers Rock helipad.
Favorably passes begin from here in Houston tomorrow morning. I plan to show
this video at Eurosom 2 this fall.
Paul Maley