Brian, Bob Tom & anyone else who hasn't tuned out, As you say INMARSAT 2F2 is at the 99th meridian, This would put it due south from that latitude (A bit west of Kansas City) From here it would appear to the east of the Meridian. I ran the element into Satscape and came up with the following: Satellite AZ ELEV Range Alt Lat Long INMARSAT: 159.02 46.43 37323.98km 35801.84km -2.04 -99.56 GEOS-N: 145.38 44.97 37417.39km 35793.47km 0.05 -91.28 None of the JCSAT's were are visible from here. Based on the timing of the observations INMARSAT would have been almost due west NW of Iota Ceti by about 4 Degrees, Geos-N Would have been NE by 6 degrees. Looks like Bob got the winner. Whatever it was, an interesting discussion. Might get me out to try to observe a few. Clear Skies Rick Tejera President Editor SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona saguaroastro@xxxxxxx www.saguaroastro.org -----Original Message----- From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Christ Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 8:24 AM To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: 2nd Magnitude Geostationary Satellite I offer this ..... My Clouseau-work surfaced the GOES-N (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) being positioned in close proximity to where we viewed the object of discussion. During the time when we viewed the object Saturday night, GOES-N was a tad under 4*, Northeast of iota ceti (~ 0h 29m, -5* 3.6). This satellite is a joint venture between NASA and NOAA and is used for monitoring weather. The altitude is 22,300 miles at an apparent magnitude of 8.51. Bob Christ -----Original Message----- From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Workman, Brian (AZ76) Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 7:56 AM To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: 2nd Magnitude Geostationary Satellite I'm no expert, but the location at 150.0 degrees is allocated JCSat 1B. This is a geosynchronous communications satellite servicing Japan, Eastern China, and other parts of the far Eastern part of the Pacific Rim. I'm guessing the "JC" might stand for Japan-China? The brightness (flare?) is most likely due to a fortuitous arrangement between the sun, you, and the large solar panels. You should NOT normally get a bright reflection from solar panels, as the satellite should be keeping them directly facing the sun, so as to most efficiently collect light and generate electricity, not angled to reflect light to you. However JCSat 1B suffered a a fuel leak near one of the thrusters while maneuvering on July 22, 2005. The satellite lost attitude control, but was later recovered. It is supposed to be operating in a reduced capacity without use of the thrusters, but it is possible or even likely that the solar panels aren't pointed quite right. By the way JCSat R is also in the 150.0 degree slot to act as a replacement. It is likely though that 1b is the one you saw. I've never heard of a geobird becoming so bright before. Brian > -----Original Message----- > From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=20 > [mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Polakis > Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 12:20 AM > To: AZ-Observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [AZ-Observing] 2nd Magnitude Geostationary Satellite =20 >While several of us were observing from Steve and Rosie=20 Dodder's >place south of Maricopa, we observed an interloper=20 'star' to the >northeast of Iota Ceti. It was distorting the=20 constellation >outline, just hanging there at 2nd magnitude or=20 a bit brighter. >=20 > After a few minutes, I put my scope on it, and it became=20 clear >that it was a geostationary satellite, occupying the=20 > -5.5 degree declination band. Over the next ten or fifteen=20 >minutes, it slowly faded from naked-eye visibility, but=20 stayed >pretty bright in the scope. We first noticed the=20 satellite at its >brightest at 10:00 p.m. Running the time in=20 desktop planetarium >software, the azimuth works out to be=20 about 150 degrees, or 30 >degrees to the east of the meridian. >=20 > What causes an object that is 22,000 miles away to flare to=20 2nd >magnitude? Has anybody seen a similarly bright rise in=20 brightness >of a geostationary satellite? Who is the local=20 expert on this >subject who would be able to help us identify=20 the satellite? >=20 > Tom > -- > See message header for info on list archives or=20 unsubscribing, and >please send personal replies to the=20 author, not the list. >=20 -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list. -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list. -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.