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(meteorobs) Re: Observations Mar 11/12 + Flashes + bugs



Mike,

It would be interesting to know if these flashes remained stationary or
if they moved. If they were stationary then I would agree with Rob that
they were geosynchronous satellites. 

I have seen many flashes and in 99% of the cases there is a repeat flash
just a degree or two away 10 to 15 seconds later. This is quite normal
for many satellites.

Thanks for mentioning this interesting subject.

Clear Skies!

Bob Lunsford



Mike Linnolt wrote:
> 
> Saturday night was clear at my home in Haiku, Maui, so I did 1.5hr Teff
> after moonset. LM was typical 6.1 for this location, darker to the east
> and brighter to the west, toward the population centers. But, more
> moskeeters, than meteors, unfortunately!
> 
> Nothing too spectacular to report, mainly fainter SPO, but there were 3
> Gamma Normids, which were the most prolific shower members seen. 2 VIR
> were also logged. Several of the SPO had VIR trajectories, but were much
> too swift, so had to be ruled out.
> 
> The oddest thing I noticed, at 01:47 local time, I saw a flash very near
> the VIR radiant, and I was about to record it as a point VIR, but then I
> saw another flash, and another... What could this be? They were about
> mag 3 and lasted <0.5sec, with 5-10 secs between them. A total of 5 or 6
> were counted, all from about the same spot: 12:05 +02°
> 
> I am not very familiar with all the different types of man-made objects
> up there. I suppose it was a geosynchronous flashing? Can anyone shed
> some light on this?
> 
> Thanks, Mike.
> 
> REPORT FOLLOWS:
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> OBS: Mike Linnolt (LINMI)
> DATE: Mar. 12, 2000
> TIME: 1050 - 1223 UT (12:50am - 2:23am HST night of Mar 11/12)
> LOC: Haiku, Maui, HI (20° 53' N, 156° 18m W)
> ELEV: 200m
> Conditions: Clear. Temp 69F. RH 80%. Winds calm.
> METHOD: Paper
> 
> Observing Periods Summary:
> ==========================
> 
> # Period(UT) FOV       Teff   F    LM      DPA  GNO  VIR  SPO
>   ---------- ---       ----   -    ---     ---  ---  ---  ---
> 1 1050-1152  11h +10   1.00  1.00  6.1      0    3    0    7
> 2 1152-1223  12h +10   0.50  1.00  6.1      0    0    2    2
> 
> Periods Detail:
> ===============
> 
> Period #1:
> ----------
> 
> Mag->_-3___-2___-1____0___+1___+2___+3___+4___+5___+6
> -------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
> DPA:................................................. = 0
> GNO:............................1..............2..... = 3
> VIR:................................................. = 0
> SPO:............................1....2....4.......... = 7
> 
> DEAD TIME: 2 min
> 
> Note: Several of the SPO had trajectory from near the VIR
> radiant, but had to be ruled out by velocity criterion.
> 
> Period #2:
> ----------
> 
> Mag->_-3___-2___-1____0___+1___+2___+3___+4___+5___+6
> -------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
> DPA:................................................. = 0
> GNO:................................................. = 0
> VIR:......................................2.......... = 2
> SPO:......................................1....1..... = 2
> 
> DEAD TIME: 1 min
> 
> END OF REPORT.
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