DMSP-16 observation

I caught DMSP-16 (the newly-launched USAF weather satellite) this
evening (7:52 PM, MDT; from northern Utah). It was about sixth
magnitude in binoculars, and accompanied by a second object; this
object was of similar magnitude and did not vary in brightness.
When I spotted the second object it was about two degrees west of
DMSP-16, and trailing it by about one degree. As I watched the
second object drifted to the east, appearing to cross DMSP-16's orbit.
This took about a minute (sorry I'm not more exact, but I was
too surprised for that).

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with this satellite, so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

--Bill Thompson

"William R. Thompson" wrote in message
...
I caught DMSP-16 (the newly-launched USAF weather satellite) this
evening (7:52 PM, MDT; from northern Utah). It was about sixth
magnitude in binoculars, and accompanied by a second object; this
object was of similar magnitude and did not vary in brightness.
When I spotted the second object it was about two degrees west of
DMSP-16, and trailing it by about one degree. As I watched the
second object drifted to the east, appearing to cross DMSP-16's orbit.
This took about a minute (sorry I'm not more exact, but I was
too surprised for that).

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with this satellite, so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

This looks like a good candidate:

Meteor 1-23 Rk
1 08520U 75124B 03288.16769840 .00000145 00000-0 76981-4 0 3445
2 08520 81.2912 312.9652 0035438 25.6982 334.5938 14.08510132428108

Ted Molczan

"William R. Thompson" wrote in message
...
I caught DMSP-16 (the newly-launched USAF weather satellite) this
evening (7:52 PM, MDT; from northern Utah). It was about sixth
magnitude in binoculars, and accompanied by a second object; this
object was of similar magnitude and did not vary in brightness.
When I spotted the second object it was about two degrees west of
DMSP-16, and trailing it by about one degree. As I watched the
second object drifted to the east, appearing to cross DMSP-16's orbit.
This took about a minute (sorry I'm not more exact, but I was
too surprised for that).

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with this satellite, so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

This looks like a good candidate:

Meteor 1-23 Rk
1 08520U 75124B 03288.16769840 .00000145 00000-0 76981-4 0 3445
2 08520 81.2912 312.9652 0035438 25.6982 334.5938 14.08510132428108

Ted Molczan

"William R. Thompson" wrote in message
...
I caught DMSP-16 (the newly-launched USAF weather satellite) this
evening (7:52 PM, MDT; from northern Utah). It was about sixth
magnitude in binoculars, and accompanied by a second object; this
object was of similar magnitude and did not vary in brightness.
When I spotted the second object it was about two degrees west of
DMSP-16, and trailing it by about one degree. As I watched the
second object drifted to the east, appearing to cross DMSP-16's orbit.
This took about a minute (sorry I'm not more exact, but I was
too surprised for that).

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with this satellite, so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

--Bill Thompson

This looks like a good candidate:

Meteor 1-23 Rk
1 08520U 75124B 03288.16769840 .00000145 00000-0 76981-4 0 3445
2 08520 81.2912 312.9652 0035438 25.6982 334.5938 14.08510132428108

Ted Molczan

"William R. Thompson" wrote in message
...
I caught DMSP-16 (the newly-launched USAF weather satellite) this
evening (7:52 PM, MDT; from northern Utah). It was about sixth
magnitude in binoculars, and accompanied by a second object; this
object was of similar magnitude and did not vary in brightness.
When I spotted the second object it was about two degrees west of
DMSP-16, and trailing it by about one degree. As I watched the
second object drifted to the east, appearing to cross DMSP-16's orbit.
This took about a minute (sorry I'm not more exact, but I was
too surprised for that).

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with this satellite, so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

--Bill Thompson

This looks like a good candidate:

Meteor 1-23 Rk
1 08520U 75124B 03288.16769840 .00000145 00000-0 76981-4 0 3445
2 08520 81.2912 312.9652 0035438 25.6982 334.5938 14.08510132428108

Ted Molczan

William R. Thompson wrote:

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with (DMSP-16), so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

And I've just received this e-mail from Ted Molczan:

----------------
Twice I tried to reply to the group, but I doubt I got through.

Anyway, this looks like a good condidate:

Meteor 1-23 Rk
1 08520U 75124B 03288.16769840 .00000145 00000-0 76981-4 0 3445
2 08520 81.2912 312.9652 0035438 25.6982 334.5938 14.08510132428108

Ted Molczan
---------------
Thank you!

I just looked at the H-A charts for DMSP-16 and the Meteor 1-23 R/B,
and that fits what I saw. Evidently the two satelites never came
closer to one another than 150 km.

--Bill Thompson

William R. Thompson wrote:

Heavens-above hasn't yet listed any predictions for any other objects
launched with (DMSP-16), so I have no idea what I saw--debris?
a classified subsatellite? It didn't seem bright enough to have
been the Titan 2 upper stage. Whatever it was, it was an interesting
experience to watch them cross orbits.

And I've just received this e-mail from Ted Molczan:

----------------
Twice I tried to reply to the group, but I doubt I got through.

Anyway, this looks like a good condidate:

Meteor 1-23 Rk
1 08520U 75124B 03288.16769840 .00000145 00000-0 76981-4 0 3445
2 08520 81.2912 312.9652 0035438 25.6982 334.5938 14.08510132428108

Ted Molczan
---------------
Thank you!

I just looked at the H-A charts for DMSP-16 and the Meteor 1-23 R/B,
and that fits what I saw. Evidently the two satelites never came
closer to one another than 150 km.

--Bill Thompson