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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 |
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Atlas 5 Fuel Dump?
"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 |
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Atlas 5 Fuel Dump?
"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 |
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