I have been out of visual satellite observing for years.
I wonder if anyone can help me. I see on 19 May 2009, a satellite
designated 2009-028A (Object A) was launch from the US according to
the Satellite Situation Report. "Ahead" of Object A are four more
objects (2009-028B - 028E). What satellite is it and is the visible?
I'll try to do observation tomorrow morning from my location is South
Africa.
Mauritz
South Africa
http://www.etacarina.co.za
2009-028A
1 35001U 09028A 09143.93887834 .00001933 00000-0 54843-4 0 91
2 35001 40.4568 25.6503 0025918 338.9366 21.0378 15.38737396 612
2009-028B
1 35002U 09028B 09144.06661754 .00002991 00000-0 79369-4 0 105
2 35002 40.4688 24.8475 0027431 342.6131 17.3742 15.39522150 624
2009-028C
1 35003U 09028C 09144.06590448 .00001441 00000-0 40985-4 0 74
2 35003 40.4719 24.8497 0029348 346.0273 13.9728 15.39790173 637
2009-028D
1 35004U 09028D 09142.05521918 .00003100 00000-0 80969-4 0 146
2 35004 40.4621 36.8833 0029384 332.0576 27.8660 15.39866567 313
2009-028E
1 35005U 09028E 09144.06619720 .00004558 00000-0 11703-3 0 45
2 35005 40.4775 24.8638 0028215 344.5272 15.4678 15.39689966 629
Object A (2009-028A) is TacSat-3 and the other objects are radio
amateur satellites. Cool!!! ;-)
Mauritz
On May 25, 8:56 pm, mauritz <mauri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Group
>
> I have been out of visual satellite observing for years.
>
> I wonder if anyone can help me. I see on 19 May 2009, a satellite
> designated 2009-028A (Object A) was launch from the US according to
> the Satellite Situation Report. "Ahead" of Object A are four more
> objects (2009-028B - 028E). What satellite is it and is the visible?
> I'll try to do observation tomorrow morning from my location is South
> Africa.
>
> Mauritz
> South Africahttp://www.etacarina.co.za
Mauritz, could it be this cluster of five payloads?
http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/tacsat3/
>I'll try to do observation tomorrow morning from my location is South
>Africa.
Let us know how it goes--except for TacSat, the payloads
on that launch were really small!
Patty
Hi Patty
Yes it looks like it. I did manage to do some observations this
morning from Somerset West, South Africa. I only spotted one of the
clusters, I think 2009-028E. It was "faint", around Mag 7-8. The main
Object (TacSat-3) is brighter, about Mag 2-3. I have not yet had the
change of looking of the magnitude of the reference star yet. I used
small binoculars (7x35) and conditions here not perfect. I'll try to
do more observations.
Mauritz
http://www.etacarina.co.za
Observation Report for Object A (2009-028A):
UTDate/Time: 2009/05/27 04h12m06s
Observed Magnitude: 4.2
Phase angle: 74
Range: 700km
Az: 339
Al: 37
Mauritz
http://www.etacarina.co.za