Atlas 5 Fuel Dump?

A group of fellow ASH members and I saw a "cloud" from the Naylor
Observatory last night between approximately 1:50 and 2:30 UT. First
seen low in the southwest it moved eastward rapidly northeastward.
Through binoculars and a 5" f/5 finder scope the object initially
appeared to be roughly triangular with a somewhat condensed head.
Later we viewed it with a 12.5" Newtonian and a 17" classical
Cassegrain. Its speed was striking. I noticed two bifurcated "tails"
through the large telescopes. The cloud became increasingly difficult
to see when it passed underneath Arcturus.

A satellite was launched that evening by an Atlas 5 (see
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...ch_030717.html ). We
assumed the cloud was the result of an orbital fuel dump by that
vehicle. I saw such a fuel dump some time ago during an Ariane
launch.

Was it in fact a fuel dump from that launch or another or a TMA
release perhaps?

Dave Mitsky
Harrisburg, PA

"Dave Mitsky" wrote in message
om...
A group of fellow ASH members and I saw a "cloud" from the Naylor
Observatory last night between approximately 1:50 and 2:30 UT. First
seen low in the southwest it moved eastward rapidly northeastward.

Its speed was striking. I noticed two bifurcated "tails"
through the large telescopes. The cloud became increasingly difficult
to see when it passed underneath Arcturus.

A satellite was launched that evening by an Atlas 5

Was it in fact a fuel dump from that launch...?

I believe it was. Here are the 2-line orbital elements of the Centaur stage
that you observed:

1 27853U 03033B 03199.05982409 -.00000235 00000-0 00000+0 0 17
2 27853 17.6077 120.0366 6069733 359.0819 0.1454 2.08703132 02

As seen from Naylor Observatory (about 40.15 N, 76.9 W), the object rose
at 01:54:30 UTC at azimuth 266 deg. By 02:00:40 UTC it was at azimuth 261,
elevation 10 deg. At 02:29:51 UTC, it was at RA 14:15, dec +06:12, roughly
13 deg below Arcturus. I will be pleased to provide a detailed ephemeris by
e-mail, upon request.

Ted Molczan

"Dave Mitsky" wrote in message
om...
A group of fellow ASH members and I saw a "cloud" from the Naylor
Observatory last night between approximately 1:50 and 2:30 UT. First
seen low in the southwest it moved eastward rapidly northeastward.

Its speed was striking. I noticed two bifurcated "tails"
through the large telescopes. The cloud became increasingly difficult
to see when it passed underneath Arcturus.

A satellite was launched that evening by an Atlas 5

Was it in fact a fuel dump from that launch...?

I believe it was. Here are the 2-line orbital elements of the Centaur stage
that you observed:

1 27853U 03033B 03199.05982409 -.00000235 00000-0 00000+0 0 17
2 27853 17.6077 120.0366 6069733 359.0819 0.1454 2.08703132 02

As seen from Naylor Observatory (about 40.15 N, 76.9 W), the object rose
at 01:54:30 UTC at azimuth 266 deg. By 02:00:40 UTC it was at azimuth 261,
elevation 10 deg. At 02:29:51 UTC, it was at RA 14:15, dec +06:12, roughly
13 deg below Arcturus. I will be pleased to provide a detailed ephemeris by
e-mail, upon request.

Ted Molczan