Gorizont 23 is back!!!
Jason Hatton (jphatton@hotmail.com)
Thu, 23 Sep 1999 11:06:18 PDT
Here is a message I tried unsuccessfully to send from my normal e-mail
account yesterday.
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Hi Everyone,
I just observed the bright geoflasher Gorizont 23, which was flashing at
approximately magnitude +6. The flash period counted over 12 periods =
51.82s (22-Sep-99, 20:28UT). This compares with a period of 51.2s that I
measured on the 12th July 1999 (Gorizont 23 was very faint at this time &
so difficult to observe). So it appears that the flash period is still
increasing.
As many of you know Gorizont 23 is a very interesting geoflasher because
the flash period appears to cyclically fluctuate (see Kurt Jonckherre's web
page for details http:// bewoner.dma.be/kjon). The reason for these
fluctations are not clear & there are some gaps in the timing data at the
points when the period starts accelerating after a period of deceleration.
Therefore, further flash timings of this satellite would be useful to
confirm the pattern of flash evolution.
Gorizont 23 is generally a bright geoflasher (usually flashing at mag +6),
although occasionally it can become very faint as it did during June / July
of this year. Some other flashing Gorizont & Raduga satellites (eg.
Gorizont 14 & Raduga 27) also appear to have periods when they flash
brightly, whilst at other times they are invisible. Observations of the
brightness & visibility / invisibility of these satellites from different
locations & at different times of the year might provide some clue as to
the mechanisms of the variability of flash visibility.
Gorizont 23 is currently just becoming visible in the east from Europe &
is well placed for observations from Africa & much of Asia. It will remain
visible over Europe for the next three weeks as it slowly drifts westwards,
becoming visible over the eastern United States by mid October.
Here is a recent Elset for Gorizont 23:
GORIZONT 23
1 21533U 91046A 99257.90689935 -.00000115 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 01786
2 21533 004.8245 064.4251 0006676 109.3756 250.9407 00.98906773024076
Best wishes & clear skies
Jason
Jason P Hatton
06200 Nice
France
43.692N, 7.246E,30M
(43d41'29"N,7d14'47"E,30m)
For further information on Gorizont 23 & other high altitude satellites
visit my web page:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/1668/high-alt.htm
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