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What Sat's did I see???
"G. Groth" wrote in message
... I have been watching satellites for about 25 years. In the last 2 years I have seen 3 satellites in a right triangle formation all within about a degree of each other. I live in central Colorado and have seen them traveling North in the winter months and just recently going South in the summer months. I have seen them no less than 5 times in these past few years but never before a couple years ago. Has anyone else seen these satellites and know which sat's these are. They are secret U.S. NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellites. They determine the location of ships at sea by triangulating on their radio transmissions. The first experimental triad was launched in 1971. Seven first generation triads were successfully launched between 1976 and 1987, on Atlas rockets. They are small, and rarely visible to the unaided eye, typically requiring the use of at least 80 mm aperture binoculars. Their orbits have become more eccentric over time, making them somewhat easier to observe when near perigee. Second generation triads were launched in 1990, 1991 and 1996, on Titan IV rockets. They are much larger than the first generation satellites. They are reliable objects in 7x50 binoculars on favourable passes,. Occasionally, they brighten to unaided-eye visibility, reaching magnitudes between 2 and 4. Rarely, they have been seen to "flare" to negative magnitudes. Here are the U.S. government's SSN catalogue numbers of the 2nd generation triad members: NOSS 2-1 20691, 20692, 20642 NOSS 2-2 21799, 21808, 21809 NOSS 2-3 23908, 23862, 23936 The latest NOSS launch, in 2001, employed an Atlas 2AS rocket. Surprisingly, only two satellites appeared, leading to speculation that the third failed to deploy. Objects 26905 and 26907 are about as bright as 2nd generation NOSS, and fly in a close formation, one behind the other. Another launch in teh series may take place in the Fall. The NOSS orbits are not published by the U.S. government; however, they are routinely tracked by hobbyists who maintain accurate orbital elements, available on Heavens Above, and elsewhere. Ted Molczan |
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What Sat's did I see???
My wife and I saw the triangle on Saturday night (July 5) around 11:30PM in
Stoughton, WI -- a bit south of Madison (plenty of light pollution). We were just watching many polar passes when this bizaar thing went over -- had to do a couple of double-takes! But we watched it go over with naked eyes -- north to south. Glad to find out what they are -- tethered Navy birds! Dave N. "G. Groth" wrote in message ... I have been watching satellites for about 25 years. In the last 2 years I have seen 3 satellites in a right triangle formation all within about a degree of each other. I live in central Colorado and have seen them traveling North in the winter months and just recently going South in the summer months. I have seen them no less than 5 times in these past few years but never before a couple years ago. Has anyone else seen these satellites and know which sat's these are. I got no reply from Heavens-above about these. Got any ideas?? Thanks in advance.. |
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