Bram Dorreman asked: > last night at approx. 19:04 UT I saw FSW 3 with an unexpected optical > behaviour: > Its magnitude varied between +3 (or brighter)and invisible > with a period between 4.5 - 5.0 seconds. Its appearance was F > (flashing). Is this suspicious or has it an intended rotation? I don't know, but the flashing appears to be a recent phenomenon. Alberto Rango and Russell Eberst reported it steady on Sep 5 and 8 respectively. On Oct 3, Alberto reported it steady again, but on Oct 4, he reported it flashing with a period of 3.66 s. I have appended their observations. For anyone interested in observing it, here are recent elements. FSW-3 2 1 28402U 04033A 04280.86010387 .00469420 76072-5 21830-3 0 1668 2 28402 62.9964 258.2205 0251331 143.5758 295.8901 15.78554748 6066 Ted Molczan 28402 04 033A 4541 F 20040905023453480 17 24 0705501+160074 37 S+055 05 2420 0409 0.211 1204 08 0403301 035923.15 055604+124820 4.5 4.5 0 S 28402 04 033A 4541 F 20041003175711080 17 24 2127068+282193 37 S+015 05 28402 04 033A 4541 F 20041004181935390 17 24 1503750+250605 18 F On 3 Oct h=63° az=112° , mg almost steady +01.5 . On 4 Oct h=28° az=280° , mg constant flashing. Primary maxima +3.5 with secondary minima +4.5 Four time periods taken ( 3s.79 , 3s.53 , 3s.73 , 3s.58). P= 3s.66 . Alberto Rango, Roma, 4541 41°.96392N 012°.45306E 80 mt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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