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The visual appearance of artificial Earth satellites
Planet. Space Sci. 1967, Vol. 15. pp. 153.5 to 1548.
Pergamon Pm
Ltd.
Printed in Northern Ireland
THE VISUAL APPEARANCE OF ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITES Valley Planetarium,
J. A. PILKINGTON Weaponness Valley Rd, Scarborough,
Yorks.
(Received 18 May 1967) Abstract-The paper lists the stellar magnitudes of satellites observed from the U.K. during 1966. Statistically derived values are given which describe the fluctuating or constant magnitudes and the rates of flashing.
The following TabIes contain the results of an analysis of the appearance of art~cial satelfites from Britain. This paper forms a supplement to the analysis of 1957-1965 observations already published, (I) the stellar magnitudes in Table 1 being derived from 4300 transits of 100 satellites observed by U.K. optical tracking stations during the year 1966. All magnitudes may be assumed positive (unless a minus sign appears), the figures in brackets being the number of estimates used to derive the value given. Most British observers are equipped to acquire satellites brighter than magnitude 9. Satellites no Ionger in orbit on January 1, 1967 are indicated by “@“. In Table 1 the column ‘Magnitude range’ shows the extremes of magnitude reported for the satellite. When variations were noted between magnitudes &fmin and M,,,, the column ‘Mean variation’ gives the means of the vahtes of .&&, and Iw,,,. The ‘Mean steady’ column refers to transits when no variations were reported. The ‘Flash range’ coIumn gives the extreme observed values for the satellites’ flash periods, and the ‘Mean flash’ column the mean of these estimates, in seconds. In cases where estimates were numerous, or the satellite’s orbit or flashing changed, the year’s observations have been divided into two sections, the ‘General appearance’ column giving the months each section covers. The concise supplementary Table 2 gives data on satellites which were very steady in appearance, infrequently observed from Britain, or tracked from Iower latitudes through their orbits having inclinations less than40’. These low-inc~nation satellites would obviously have appeared fainter than the tabulated value, had they been seen from the U.K. Although the computations take no account of the slant range or phase angle with the Sun for individual transits, good agreement is seen between identical satellites in similar near-circular orbits. Discrepancies occur with increasingly elliptical orbits and irregularly shaped spacecraft, Using this data in conjunction with the satellite orbits compiled in the Royal Aircraft Establishment’s Table of Artificial Satellites,(2~3)absolute magnitudes for a specific slant range can be calculated. In this connection, mean geographic co-ordinates applicable to these Tables were derived from the co-ordinates of the forty stations between latitudes 489” and 57rN, weighted according to the proportion of the 8300 transits each observed during 1966. The results areLatitude 53~25”North; Longitude @64” West; Height 58 metres above M.S.L. Probable shapes and sizes for unidentified Cosmos and other Soviet spacecraft have been calculated from the absolute magnitudes and published,(*) assuming a l-m dia. sphere at IO00 km slant range to appear as magnitude +7.84. Although more accurate signature analysis investigations could be made were refined photometric recordings available, the 1535
1536
J. A. PILKINGTON
author has derived improved dimensions for many Soviet spacecraft using the observed ma~tudes, slant ranges, and theoretical magnitude vs. cross-sectional area curves given by the Space Sciences Laboratory. t5) The magnitude data listed may also give an indication of the degradation of satehite reflectivity with increasing time in orbit. SATELLITE FLASH PERIODS
The curves and tables showing the variation of satellite flash period with time, given in Ref. (1) and Ref. (6) are continued here in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Table 3, together with some
July
Aug.
1
Sep.
1
Oct.
1
Nav.
1
Dec.
1
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
1965
Apr.
1May 1June 1July ’ Aug. ’ Sep. ’ Oct. ’ Nov. ’ Dec. 1966
I
Date
FIG. 1. SATELLITE FLASH PERIODS.
values for new spacecraft. Four rocket bodies exhibit irregular curves, probably due to venting of gas from small stabilisation rockets or rupture of pressurized tanks. Nimbus 1 rocket (1964-52B) tumbled about once per minute from launch to October 1965, decreased its period to 4 set by March 1966, and then dampened rapidly. O.G.O. 2 rocket (19658lB) exhibited rather similar behaviour, being fairiy stable initially, flashing every 3 to 1.3 set between February and October 1966, and then slowing once again. Cosmos 54 rocket (1965-110) showed irreguIar long period variations during 1965, accelerated its flash rate from 19 to 4.2 set between January and June 1966, and now appears to be dampening at a near-normal rate. Finally a third Agena rocket (196516J) which showed unusual activity in 1965, slowed fairly normally during 1966 apart from a slight spin-down in March.
VISUAL APPEARANCE
OF ARTIFICIAL
EARTH SATELLITES
1537
Mention is made in Table 1 of three other rocket bodies which performed spin-ups after being initiahy steady. The Ablestar 1964-8314 started flashing every 2.1 see between 4 and 15 September 1966. Another Ablestar, 196565B, began flashing about 15 October 1965 with a period of 2.3 set and has since slowed to over 5 sec. Finalfy Nimbus 2 rocket
- JI FIG. 2. PHWD
0~ FLASHING, sec.
(1966-4~B~ started to flash in roughly 4 see between July and December 1966, There are also indications that Cosmos 116 rocket (1966-36B) and Cosmos 119 (1966-4314) tumbled faster as their lives progressed. Through an increased number of photome~ic observations being available from KesselLo, Belgium and other stations this year, it has been possible to expand Table 3 considerably. In cases where it was not possible to distinguish between whole or half-period flashes through inte~ming~ng, values for some of the indicated satellites may all need to be doubled.
1538
J. A. PILKINGTON
However, in the majority of cases throughout the paper, the flash period represents a 180” rotation of the satellite. It is interesting to note how satellites such as Cosmos 55, 82, and 88 were subjected to much stronger magnetic damping than was experienced by the companion satellites and rockets in very similar orbits, suggesting they contained metals of a very different magnetic susceptibility. The curves for Cosmos 70 and 97 rockets probably depart from linearity as a result of the increased atmospheric damping experienced during the objects’ descent. Attempts to explain the shape and slope of the flash curves would require knowledge of the satellites metallic construction and their initial motion. (‘1 It is felt that the tabulated data may lead to a method of determining the magnetic field at various heights above the Earth’s surface, and investigating the temporal and geograp~cal changes in the field strength. Ackn~wiedge~ent~-~ am greatly indebted to the SatelliteOrbits Group of tie Radio and Space Research Station for supplying me with the satellite data used in papers during the last 4 years. I would also like to thank Mr. D. G. King-Hele of the Royal Aircraft Establishment for his reading of the drafts and helpful advice. REFERENCES 1. J. A. PILKINGTON, PImet. Space Sci. 12,597 (1964); 13,541 (1965); 14, 1281 (1966). 2. J. M. REES and D. G. KING-HELE, Planet. Space Sci. 11, 1053 (1963). 3. D. G. KING-HELE and E. QUINN, PZanet. Space Sci. 12, 681 (1964); 13, 707 (1965); 14,817 (1966). 4. J. A. PILKINGTON, Flight Znt. 84, 977 (1963); 85, 784 (1964); 85, 946 (1964): 86, 605 (1964): 87, 381 (1965). 5. G. A. MCCUE, J. G. WILLIAMS,H. J. DUPRIEand R. C. HOY, North American Aviation Rept. No. SID 65-1176 (1965). 6. D. G. &NG-HELE and E. QUINN, R.A.E. Technical Memorandum Space 52 (1965). 7. J. G. WILUSMS and G. A. McCua, Planet. Space Sci. 14,839 (1966).
Pearo,vre--Pa6oTa nepe=mcntzeT Ben%iKo6pYrTamiH~1966 fogy. Ko~eBnrolylcIecK mm
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sixbmrami~.
Agena D (1963-03A) @ Explorer 17 (1963-A) “Midas 6” (1963-14A)
Anna IB rocket (1962 B-Mu 2) Injun 3 (1962 B-Tau 2) Injun 3 rocket (1962 B-Tau 6)
Transit 1B (1960 Gamma 2) Trasit 2A rocket (1960 Eta 3) Echo 1 rocket (1960 Iota 2) Samas 2 (1961 Alpha 1) Midas 3 (1961 Sigma 1) Midas 4 (1961 A-Delta 1) “Midas 5” (1962 Kappa 1) Ariel 1 (1962 Omicron 1) Ariel 1 rocket (1962 Omicron 2) Alouette 1 rocket (1962 B-Alpha 2) “Star-rad”’ (1962 B-Kappa 1)
Name (Designation)
1 s;S&
4&9
2az9
2 & 10
-l&10
5 & 10
(9) (7) 6.1 to 8-4 (7) (7)
-
20&60
5&1OO
-
15 & 23& -
6 & IO
24 & 62
l&20
-
1%& 42%
120 & 240
53*2 (1)
34.3 (16)
(2)
(2) > 120 (1) 52.5
& 11.3 (36) 17.7 ‘:‘3
428 (17)
(1.5)
%! (1) 13.1
10.1 (13) 190 (4) 5.9
Steady, or slowly varying
Steady
Period slowing from 23-6-60 set
Slowly fading, July-Dec.
Steady or variable, Jan.-June
Steady, sometimes irregular variations
Period slowing from 6.9-9.3 set, Jan .-June Period slowing from 9-4-14.2 set, July-Dec. Period slowing from 15-21.8 set 7
Flashing slowing down?
Steady or slowly flashing
Steady, with sharp flashes
Irregular flashing
Steady, occasional slow variations
Flashes in triplets?
Steady, occasionally slowty fading
4 & 18%
Steady
(1) -
Steady, or slightly variable
Steady
General appearance
O-5
Mean flash
--
Flash range
4&9
n 9.1 (15) 6.9 (11) 7-2
Meeil steady
4&l&$
(13) 5‘4 to (22) 3.5 to (16) 3.8 to
(3) 6.7 (3) 9.0 (3) 56 (16) 8.5 (19) 8.5 (6) 8.1 (8122)
to 6.0
(4) 5.2 to (4) 8.3 to (5) 4.1 to (24) 5-4 to (19) 6.2 to (6) 5.2 to (4128) to
5.9
Mean variation
*8r11
1 &lO
2&8
3 & 12
3 &lo
3&9
5&9
4&9
2&9
I* & 10
44 & 8
4&8
Magnitude range
TABLE 1. SATELLITEMAGNITUDES
Echo 2 rocket (1964-W%) Elektron 2 rocket (1964-06D) Agena D (1964-l IA) Ariel2 (1964-l5A) Ariel 2 racket (1964-15B) @ Polyot 2 (1964-19B) Agena D (196435A) Explorer 20 (1964-51A) Nimbus f (1964-52A) Nimbus 1 rocket (1964-52B)
Pofyoi 1 (1963-43A) Ablestar rocket (1963-49A) Explorer I9 (1963-53A)
Geophysics Satebite (1963.26A) Agena B (1963-27A) “Midas 7” (1963-30A) Dash 2 balloon (1963”3OD)
Name (Designation)
3&9
3&5)
Sk&9
1* &8
2;a & 5
4 &IO
56 & 10
O&9
7&9j$
4&9
la & lop
-
t;:,
Period slowing from 3.0-150 set
Period slowing from 3.5-6.0 stx
Regular flashiig, period slowing? 3.1 (6) 4.0 (0 2t & 3a-
Steady, occasionally brightening
-
-
Steady, or very slowly varying
-
Varying, period about 28 see?
Steady, with irregular variations
-
-
Steady, occasionally brightening
-
(4”, -
Varying, period almost constant
Slowly varying, or steady
Steady, July-Dec.
Steady, Jan.-June
Steady, with very slow fades
Period slowing from 6-360 see?
Steady, July-Dec.
Steady, Jan-June
Regular flashing and fading.
Period slowing from 9.3-23.3 set
Period slowing from 13.3-30 set
General appearance
lir&l$
30 & 135
-
75 (I) 7.5 (27) 8.9 (4) 4.6 (8) 8+! (61 8.6 (7) 43 (2) 6.5 (6) 8.9 (7) 5.3 (2) 6.1 (13)
-
7.0 to (1) 53 to (29) 7.7 to (4) 2.4 to (9) 7*2 to (6) 6.2 to (9) 27 to (2) 3.4 to (7) 7.0 to (7) 3*5 to (2) 3.9 to (14)
-
3&R
3 &Sk
-
-
-
4&X
2&7
-
147 (6) 13.4 (36) 33-o (8) -
Mean flash
(“;,” -
3 & 10
7.3 to 8.3
-
S&9
5&10&
26& & 43
2g & 12
5 & 234
Flash range
7 &21
5.9 to 8.2
5&9
Mean steady
1 &lO
Mean variation
Magnitude range
TABLE 1 (Conrinued) 0
E
Cosmos 58 (1965-14A) Cosmos 58 rocket (1965-14B) Agena D rocket (1965-16J) Ablestar rocket (1965-17C) Altair rocket (1965-21C) Snapshot nosecap (1965-27C) Thor Aitair payload (196%38A) Altair rocket (1965-38B) USAF octagon (196%5OA) @ Cosmos 70 (196%52A) Q Cosmos 70 rocket (1965-52B)
Ablestar rocket (1964.83A) Thor Altair payload (1965-93A) @ Cosmos 53 (1965”06A) Cosmos 54 rocket (1965-1113)
Cosmos 44 (1964-53A) Cosmos 44 rocket (1964-53B) Explorer 23 (1964.74A) Explorer 24 (19647619)
O&10
l&S&
2&9
5&P
5&7
3 &8g
6&9
2&8
3&9
3&8
3 &73
O&9
14 & 10
3+ 8~8
44&9
4&8
3%&9
23 & 8
lg&lO
4&8
l&9
(2) 4.3 to (17) 6*O to (4) 6.6 to (8) 5.2 to (5) 44 to (6) 2.7 to (30)
(6) 55 to (9) 4.2 to (36) 4.1 to ‘;“p to
4.3 to (25) 5.1 to (4) 2.3 to (8) 5.0 to (4) 60 to (4) 4.0 to (2) 55 to (3) 4-6 to (7) 4.0 to (49) 4-O to y;jto
9‘0 (2) 84 (5) 6.7 (5) 5.1 (24)
(L 7.6 (4) -
(3) 6.0 (4) 6.7 (25) 6.0 ri
6.6 (21) 5.8 (4) 9.1 (7) 6.2 (4) 7.1 (4) 7-5 (2) 8.7 (3) 62 (5) 6.3 (34) 6-6 6(lg2)
i&S
-
-
l&2
-
4&4)
-
a&2
lt &27
-
-
3&8
54
4 & 15
Steady
Steady
Period slowing from 4.2 to 5.3 SW
(Y)
(42) 5.0 (1) 4”1 (7) 0.47 (3) 1.8 (7) I.0 (2) 25 (1)
Period slowing from 0.76 to 65 set
Four flashes then gap; period slowing 0.8-1.5 see Steady, or slight variation
Period slowing from 1-6 to 2.7 set?
Flickering
Regular flashing
Period slowing from 3 to 7.4 set?
Period i-5-27*8 sec. Spin-down in March (iii) Flickering. Period from O-60 to 1-I set 0.75
-
(3;) -
01
0.5 (1) Period quickening from 18.9-4.2 set
Steady to Sept., then period slowing 2.L2.7 set Brief flashes, period from 25 to 3.5 set
2.8 (3) 3.9
0)
Steady, period 4 SK? Jufy-Dec.
-
-
-
2&4
-
Period slowing from 21*5-200 see?
44.2 (7) Steady, Jan-June
Fairly steady. Period slowing from 19 to48 set? Steady
13.4 (5) W
Alouette 2 (196598A) Alouette 2 rocket (1965.98C) France 1 (1965101A) France 1 rocket (1965-1OlB) Cosmos 100 (196%106A) Cosmos 100 rocket (196%106B)
USAF octagon (196%62B) Ablestar/Surcal (1965-65B) Cosmos 80 rocket (196%70F) Ahair rocket (1965-721)) Cosmos 86 rocket (196.5-73F) Orb. Geo. Obs. 2 (1965-81A) O.G.O. 2 rocket (1965-81B) Explorer 29 (196%89A) Cosmos 97 (1965-95A) Cosmos 97 rocket (1965-95B)
Cosmos 71 rocket (19&T-53F)
Name (Designation)
3&8
248~7
5&9
S&P
3*8c7
2&9
2&9
--i&8
4&9
5 & 114
l&P
2&10
4&9
6&9
48~8
5&8
7P&89
2&S&
248~9
Magnitude range
(34) 8.5 (2) 7.0 (5) 6.8 (7) 9.0 (1) 6.9 (8) 6.9 (22) 7-O ‘8’;) (2) 7.7 (4) 5.7 (8) 5.9 (20) 7.9 ?! (6) 8.9 (3) 9‘0 (3) 5.2 (3) 6.4 (13)
(33) 80 to (2) 52 to (5) 5.4 to (9) 6-O to (2) 5.0 to (9) 4.8 to (22) 4.2 to 0 to (4) 5.7 to (6) 3.5 to (13) 4.1 to (26) 4.1 to (X0 (7) 6.8 to (4) 5.5 to (3) 4.1 to (4) 4,4 to (13)
3.5 to 6-5 ‘3”:’ to ‘5’;)
Mean variation
\Y) (17)
(4) 5.0 (1) 8.2 (4) 8.0 (1) 4.4
$i)
$89
;“,
0
&
5.2 (9) 7.2 (9)
(1)
6.0
:;;
(2)
50
Mean steady
TABLE 1 (Confinued)
i&5
-
6 & 12
t & 22
5+&6f
2&20
i&l
O&t
-
.-
l&5&
60 & 79
4&l
2&2&
29 & 363
3it & 34
-
4 & 17
l&&S%
Flash range
2.6 (7)
(92; -
t;:
(8) 6.3 (3)
0.30 (12) 0.67 ‘:;)
-
$) _-
3-4 (3) 31.7 (3) 22 (2) 0.66 (9) 69.5 (2)
Mean flash
variations
Irregular flashing, period 06-58 set
Steady, with slight variations
Siowly varying
Rapid irregular variations
Fluctuating slowly
Slowly flashing
Period 0.42-0*85 see July-Dec.
Period 0.28-0.42 set Jan.-June
Steady or slightly variable
Lamp flashes to magnitude 55(11)
Period increasing 18.7-1.7 set
Long-period
Flashing; period &owing from 1.45 to 3.1 sec. Period slowing from 0.49 to 0.98 SW:
Period slowing from 21 to 49 set?
Period slowing from 2.7 to 5.4 set
Irregular variations ; period 0.66-l *3set
Period 14-4~8 sec. Alternate flashes to 311% 6& Jan.-June Period 48-20 set, July-Dec.
General appearance
8 3 2
g
z
?
9
2
+.
@ Cosmos 101 rocket (196%107B) Altair rocket (1965-109B) Cosmos 103 (1965-112A) Cosmos 103 rocket (1965-1128) @ Cosmos 106 (1966-04A) @ Cosmos 106 rocket (196604s) Altair rocket (1966.OSB) Agena D (1966-09A) @ Cosmos 108 (1966-DA) @ Cosmos 108 rocket (1966-11B) @ Cosmos 110 rocket (1966-15B) @ Cosmos 11.5rocket (1966-338) @ Cosmos 116 rocket (1966-36B) @ Cosmos 117 rocket (1966-37B) Cosmos 118 (1966.38A) Cosmos 118 rocket (1966-38B) USAF octagon (1966-39B) Nimbus 2 rocket (1966-4OB) @ Cosmos 119 (1966-43 A) Explorer 32 (1966~44A) Explorer 32 rocket (1966&B) 2.5
-
8&&
4 & 16
-
l&3
i&l&
+&I
48c1ot
5.9 to 8.9 (16) (10)
38~6
it&l
5.1 (14) 3.5 (1) 6.0 (1) 67 (17) 8.2 (4) 5-6
2.6 to (35) 3.1 to (3) 2.7 to (2) 4.3 to (21) 5.7 to (6) 4.6 to
(1)
4 & 212
4.8 (7)
8.6 (12) 0.36 (5) -
;z, 0.72 (2) 0.97 (35) 1.7 (3) -
(13)
0.49
it&l4
j)
-
(
0.61 (42) 10.0 (3) 0.43 “pl?)
(3) -
Steady; brief flashes to 5.6 & 6.6 alternately Slowly varying
Steady; started to flash in 4 SBC in Sept? slowed to 5.9 sec. Fiasbing increasing 25-15 see?
Period slowing from 0.57 to @98 see?
Period slowing from 6 to 18 set?
Steady
FM-ring or steady
Period quickening from I.1 to 0.7 set?
Rapid fiashing
Alternate maxima of -4 and 34
Period slowing from O-2 to @4 set?
Steady
Steady
Slowly varying
Rapid flashing
Fairly steady
Flashing slowing from 0.33 to 2.25 set
Steady
Period slowing from 1.2 to 1.5 set i;40) Slowly varying 5.0
‘5.0 (1) -
-
6&11;:
P&1
3 &20
a & 2%
-
3&6
l&&2
3 & 10
(2)
(2)
0 -
(4;:) 6.1 (7)
5.3 (31)
(11
3.3 (3) 7.0
x &2.+
(2) 4.5 (10 8.1 (4) 6.1 (4) 6.0 (3) 6.1 (8) 5.7 (l-7) 7-3
(2)
5.0 (3) 8.0 (I) 6.2 (4) 6.0 (45) 7.7
27 to (32) 5.7 to (4) 4.1 to (5) 5.0 to (3) 3.2 to (16) 1.5 to (23) 42 to
1.9 to (11) 6.6 to (2) 4.1 to (6) 3.4 to (55) 6.1 to
O&6
3&&7
J&9
3&9
l&&7
O&4
l&6
2&8
-_?t&8
l&8
5 & 6k
2+&7
S&9
6&8
5&8
2&9
3$&7
59&S
O&6
Y LI c
m P
$
%
$
% G+i
2
;;
c
Name
Pageos 1.rocket (1966-56B) Cosmos 122 rocket (1966-57B) @ Proton 3 (1966-60A) @ Proton 3 rocket (1966-60B) @ Cosmos 123 rocket (1966-61B) USAF octagon (1966-74B) “Midas 8” (1966-77A) @ Cosmos Unknown 1 (1966-88A) “Midas 9” (1966-89A)
@ Agena D (1966-5112) Pageos 1 (1966-56A)
(Designation)
4& & 9
3 &Sb
4&9
5&9
l&7
-3&7
O&6
3&7
6&9&
1%&4
K’to (2, 6.0 to (15) 4-7 to (2) 5.5 to (13)
8(? (2) 7.8 (14) 8.5 (1) 7.9 (12)
3.1 to 5.3 (58) (46) 24 to 3.6 (42) (40) 2.4 to 3.4 (26) (25) 8.1 to 9.3 (25) (23) 4.0 to 6.1 (5) (4) 1.4 to 3.5 (8) (6) - -0.6 to 4.6 (8) (8) 2.9 to 5.7
-2&8
l&&8&
Mean variation
Magnitude range
(z)
(1)
;;)
& -0.5 (11) 2-o (6) 6.8 (4)
cn
p%
;:)
048)
c:k’, 3-1
Mean steady
TABLE 1 (Continued)
&&a
-
t&t
t&a
1$&3
30&40
-
g&l5
t&l
-
304 & 90
20 & 90
Flash range
0.57 (10)
(2) 0.61 (6) -
33-3 (3) 2-1 $)
(3) -
0.57 f;)
44.2 (4) 60.2 (2) -
Mean flash
Steady, or rapid variations
Varying irregularly
Steady, sometimes varying rapidly
Period slowing from 0.77 to 0.91 xc
Flashing slowly from 1.2 to 11 set?
Steady, or slowIy varying
Steady, some slow variations
Flashing slowing from 1 to 12 set?
Flashing, period constant ?
Almost steady Oct.-Dec.
Trains of flashes at 0.67 se@) intervals Slow slight variations June-Sept .
General appearance
VISUAL
APPEARANCE
OF ARTIFICIAL
EARTH
SATELLITES
TABLE 2. SUPPLEMENTARYLIST Satellite Explorer 1 Vanguard 2 Vanguard 3 Explorer 7 Transit 2A Samos 2 nosecap Transit 4A Ablestar fragment Midas 5 fragment Tiros 6 v Alouette 1 Snhere Sphere Exolorer 16 Teistar 2 Tiros 7 Ablestar rocket APL Radiation Polyot 1 fragment Centaur 2 Centaur 2 fragment Centaur 2 fragment Agena D rocket Solar Radiation 5 Pickaback Agena D rocket Echo 2 hemisphere Saturn 5 Elektron 1 Agena D rocket Elektron 3 Elektron 4 rocket Radiation P. 11 Cosmos 41 rocket Ablestar rocket Explorer 22 Agena D Transit Pegasus 1 Cosmos 54 Solar Radiation 6 Surcal 2 Pickaback Rocket fragment Rocket fragment Rocket fragment Rocket fragment Thor Altair payload Snapshot Explorer 27 Pegasus 2 Apollo 4 Transit ? Ablestar rocket Tiros 10 rocket Cosmos 71 Cosmos 73 Cosmos 75 Fragment
Designation 1958 Alpha 1 1959 Alpha 1 1959 Eta 1 1959 Iota 1 1960 Eta 1 1961 Alpha 2 1961 Omicron 1 1961 Omicron 3 1962 Kaopa 3 1962 A-Psi 1 1962 B-Alvha 1 1962 B-Ta; 1 1962-B-Tau 5 1962 B-Chi 1 1963-138 1963-24A 1963-3819 1963-38C 1963-43B 1963-47A 1963-47C 1963-47F 1964-OlA 1964-OlD 1964-OlE 1964-02A 196404E 1964-05A 1964-06A 1964-3lC 1964-38A 1964-381) 1964-45B 1964-49E 1964-63A 1964&A 1964-72A 1964-83D 196%09A 1965-11A 1965-16A 1965-16G 1965-17D 1965-20E 1965-20P 1965-20AA 1965-20AR 1965-21A 1965-27A 1965-32A 1965-39A 1965-39B 196548A 1965-48C 1965-51B 1965-53A 196.5-53C 1965-53E 1965-535
Magnitude 8.6(12), range 7f & lOa_ 94(22), 9.2 to 10.5(2) 9.1(18), range 7 & 104 7.2(3), 75 (4) to 9.5(2) 6.7(13), range 54 & 8 7.5(2), range 3 & S& 7,2(3), range 64 & 8 6.0 (2) to 10 in 18 se&A lo-5to 11 varying, losteady 7 to 7.5, occasional +6 flashes 3.5 to 7.5 in 3 set(2) 7.7(3), range 6 & 83 8.0 to 85 2.6 to 6*6(5), range 0 & 9 8.9(2), range 7 % 9 7.2(3), 48(3) flickers 5.7(9), range 4 & 78 5-4 to 7*8(3), range l& & 8 5.5 to 8.0 varying 5.1(8), 4.7 to 5.3(2) 8.8(2), range 84 & 9 9.0(3), range 84 & 9 5.0(20), 4.7 to 6.8(2) 6-7 to.75, S-O(l) varying 7*0(l). 65 to 80(l) 4.5(2), range 4 & 5 2.0 sharp t&h in 0.7 see 3.2(18). ranee -1 & 6 8.4&j; ranie 7 & 115 5+0(2) steady 8.3(21), range 6 & 10 6.0 to 8*2(2) in @7 set 7.0 period l-5 set? 6.0(l) steady 5.5 to 8+0(2) long period 7.2(3), 4 to 6 3*2(17), 2.0 to 4.2(2) 6.7(6), 7 to 8 steady 3*4(7), range 2) & 44 6.7 to 7*0(2), 64 max 4-5 to 5.5 (1) varying 5.0 to 75(2), 6.0 varying 8+0(l) steady 5.7(2) steady, range 5& & 6 5.0 to 7*0(l) 41(7), 47 to 6-O(2), slow Sash 4.6(7), 4.7 to 6.5(5), varying 5-O flashes in 0.5 set 5.4(34), range 3 & 74 9.0 to 11.5 in 2.5 set 3.6(9), range 1 & 5 4.0(2), range 3 & 5 7.3(7), . ,. 5.9 to 7-O(2). steadv 4*8(7), 45 to 75(j ’ 8.0. veriod slowine 4-9 to 6.6 set 4.1 ‘tb 7.0(3) rang;3 & 7 6.0 to 7-O Bickering 5.0 to 75 steady fading 6.5 to 85(2) flashing
1545
1546
J. A. PILKIN~~ON TABLE 2 (Continued)
Satellite Agena D Cosmos 76 Pegasus 3 Abciestar fragment Dodecahedron 2 Transit Ablestar fragment Surcal Cosmos 82 0-V. l-2 rocket Mo~iya 1B Proton 2 Proton 2 rocket Explorer 30 Explorer 30 rocket Cosmos 98 rocket Explorer 3 1 Deha second stage Cosmos 101 Transit ? Rocket fragment Cosmos 104 Cosmos 104 rocket Cosmos 105 Scout payload Luna 9 launcher Essa 1 Essa 1 fragment Diapason ‘i Diaoason 1 rocket CoS;nos 109 Cosmos 110 Essa 2 Essa 2 rocket Target Agena 8 Cosmos 112 Cosmos 112 rocket Cosmos 113 Cosmos 113 rocket Transit ? Ahair rocket Thor Ahair payload Altair rocket Luna 10 launcher rocket Cosmos 114 Cosmos 114 rocket Agena D capsule Cosmos 115 Orbiting Vehicle 3-1 O.V. 3-l rocket Cosmos 116 Cosmos 117 Nimbus 2 Transit ? Ahair rocket A.T.D.A. Orbiting Vehicle 3-4 cosmos 121 Cosmos 121 rocket
Designation 196555A 1965-59A 1965-60A 1965-65A 1965-65C 1965-65F 1965-65G 1965-65K 1965-70C 1965-78B 1965~80A 1965~87A 1965-87B 1965-93A 196%93B 1965-97B 1965-98B 1965-105B 1965-107A 1965-109A 1965-112C 1966-OlA 1966-OlB 1966-03A 1966-05A 1966&B 1966OSA 196608C 1966-13A 1966-13B 1966-14A 1966-15A 196616A 196616B 1966-19A 1966-21A 1966-21B 1966-23A 196623B 1966-24A 1966-24B 1966-26A 1966-26B 1966-27C 1966-28A 1966-28B 1966-32A 1966-33A 1966-34A 196634B 1966-36A 1966-37A 196640A 1966-4114 196641B 1966-46A 1966-52A 1966-54A 196654B
Magnitude 4*3(9), 1.9 to 4.5(4), range -& & 68 6*8(2), range 6J & 7 3*3(3), range 3 & 3) 7.7 to 8*8(2) varying 6-O to 8*1(4), 8.2 steady 6*9(8), range 5 & 86 8.3 to 95, 8.2 steady 6.3 to 9*0(2), 7.7 in 1.8 see 8-O to invisible, flashing 7.0 to invisible 6.0 Z-2(3), range 1 & 4 20 to 3.0 8.0 to invisible in 05 see 50 to 9.0 in 5 set(1) regularly 1 to 3 flashing in 2 sec. 7.0 to 7.9(4) in 26 sec. 7*0(2), range 6 & 8 5.7 to 7-O(2), range 5 & 7 78(6), range 7 & 8) 7.5 brief flashes 3*0(2), range 2 & 4 2.0 to 3.5(2) in 0.77 set (2) 2.0 steady. 7*4(4), 6.5 to 77(3) 73(2), 6-O to 7.0 ‘75 to 85(2) varying 8.3 to 10.0 Bashing S-2(2), range 8 & 84 90(4), range 8 & 10 1+4(7), 1.8 to 28(3) 3*7(16), 25 to 41(S) steady 6*3(3), range 5 & 9 9-O to 10.0 in 2 sec. 4*6(4), range 3 & 6 2~9(5), range 2 & 4 3.7 to 6.0(4), 2.0 in O-5 set 2*4(13), range 16 & 44 1.2 to 4*5(2) in 5 set, range 0 & 7 5.4 to 7.8(3), 7-5(3) 65(2) max, range 5 & 8 7.0 to 8.0 in l-4 sec. 6.5 to 7-O in 5 sec. 3.0 to 5.0, 3.5 varying 3.0 steady 2.0 steady 2.5 steady 3*2(3), range 2 & 4t 4.9 to 7*0(3), 7*0(2) 8.0 max S-9(4), 65 to invis 1*3(3), range 1 & 2 65(14), 5.4 to 7*0(3) 5.0 to 8,8(3), 7-O(2) in 10 SW 9.0 0*0(2), range -1 & 1 7.0 to invisible 2*7(3), range 14 & 4f 3.0 steady
VISUAL
APPEARANCE
OF ARTIFICIAL
EARTH
SATELLITES
1547
TABLE 2 (Continued) Designation
Satellite
Magnitude
1966-55A 1966-56C 196657A 1966-58B 1966&C 1966-61A 1966-62A 1966-67A 1966-69A 1966-74A 1966-79A 1966-79B 1966-82A 1966-82B 1966-83B 1966-91B 1966-92A 1966-92C 1966-93B 1966-97B 1966-99B 1966-99D 1966-1OlG 1966-107A 1966-112A 1966-112B
Agena D Pageos 1 fragment Cosmos 122 Delta second stage Proton 3 fragment Cosmos 123 Capsule Cosmos 125 Agena D Capsule Cosmos 128 Cosmos 128 rocket Thor Burner 2 payload Burner 2 rocket USAF octagon Cosmos 129 rocket Molniya 1D Molniya launcher rocket Cosmos 130 rocket O.V. 3-2 rocket Orbiting Vehicle 4-1R Orbiting Vehicle 4-1T Cosmos U.2 capsule Cosmos 133 Cosmos 135 Cosmos 135 rocket
3.0 steady 11.0, 10.0 max. 5.3(13), range 3f & 7 0.0(2) steady 4.0, 3.0 max. 5.0, 7.0 to 8.0 4.0 steady 2.0 to 5.0 in 0.6 sec. 2.0 to 6.0, 4.0 fading 5.0 to 6.0 3.3(3), 1.0 to 3.0 steady 0.5(2), 1.0 to 6.0 in 1.5 set 6.6 to 85(4), 7.3(3) 7.0 to 9.0 in 3.0 sec. 7.0, period 0.5 to 0.7 set? 2.7 to 5.0(2) in 2.9(2) set 8.7(3), 8.5 to 9.0 3.6 steady 1.0 to 2.0, 2.0 varying 8.0, 7.0 max in 1 set 58(2), range 5 & 6f 7.0 steady 9.5, 9.0 max 0.0 to 1.0 5.7(3), 5.0 to 6.0 2.4 to 4.5(4) in 0.3 set, 2.5 (2)
TABLE 3. SATELLITEFLASHPERIODS Flash period (set) Satellite Star-rad (1962 B-Kappa 1) Agena D (1963-03A) Altair rocket (1963-05A) Geophysics (1963-26A) Agena D (1963-27A)
Nimbus 1 (196452A) Nimbus 1 rocket (1964-52B) Thor Altair (1965-03A) * Cosmos 55 (1965-11B) Cosmos 54 rocket (1965-11D)
Launch date
Time after launch (months) 30 36
18
24
Oct. 26
2.6
3.6
4.3
Jan. 16
6.4
9.9
Feb. 19
4.6
Jun. 28 Jun. 29
42
48
6.8
8.1
12.5
16.1
24.5
41.2
62.5
6.0
7.7
9.9
13.1
17.5
6.8
9.6
13.2
20.4
30?
-
3.8
5.8
9.3
23.6
23.6
38?
0
6
24
30
Aug. 28
1.8
2.3
3.8
4.9
6.6
Aug. 28
>60
>60
3.9
9.2
19
Jan. 19
1.8
2.1
2.5
3.0
3.6
4.4
Feb. 21
2.2
4.6
13.5
>lOO
-
-
Feb. 21
-40 ?
124
16.0
4.6
5.3
6.2?
Time after launch (months) 12 18 3.0 >60
1548
J. A. PILKINGTON TABLE 3
(Continued) Flash period (set)
Satellite
Launch date 0
Agena D rocket (1965-165) Ablestar rocket (1965-17C) * Cosmos 61 (1965-2OA) Altair rocket (1965-21C) USAF octagon (1965-31B) Altair rocket (1965-38B) USAF octagon (1965-50A) * Tiros 10 (1965-51A) Tiros 10 rocket (1965-51B) Cosmos 70 rocket (1965-52B) * Cosmos 71 (1965-53A) * Cosmos 75 (1965-53E) Cosmos 71 rocket (1965-53F) USAF octagon (1965-62B) Surcal/Ablestar (1965-65B) * Cosmos 82 (1965-7OC) * Cosmos 84 (1965-70E) Cosmos 80 rocket (1965-70F) * Cosmos 86 (1965-73A) * Cosmos 88 (1965-73C) * Cosmos 90 (1965-73E) Cosmos 86 rocket (1965-73F) O.G.O. 2 rocket (1965-81B) Cosmos 97 rocket (1965-95B) Cosmos 100 rocket (1965-106B) Cosmos 103 rocket (1965-112B)
6 -4.4
Mar. 9
9.6
Mar. 11
0.48
0.55
Mar. 15
3.0
7.7
Mar. 18
1.6
2.4
Apr. 28
1.1
May 20
Time after launch (months) 12 18 2.5 0.65
12.8
24 50
30 -220
1.25
1.8?
>500
-
-
3.6
5.6
8.8
13.7
1.4
1.9
2.7
3.9
6.0
1.3
l-6
2.0
2.6
3.3
4.4?
Jun. 25
0.6
0.8
1.1
1.5
2.0
2.7?
Jul. 2
2.1
2.4
2.8
3.3
4.0
-
Jul. 2
4.0
4.4
5.3
6.5
7.9
96?
Jul. 2
0.43
0.77
-6.5
decayed
-
-
Jul. 16
2.9
9.4
-71.5
>500
-
-
Jul. 16
49
15.5
-120
>500
-
-
Jul. 16
0.42
l-55
5.3
22.1
80?
-
Aug. 3
0.50
0.69
0.98
1.4
2.1
3.2?
>20?
2.9
4.2
5.9
8.2?
-
Sep. 3
0.6
4.7
-
-
Sep. 3
0.88
1.28
4.5 ?
-
57?
-
-
2.4
3.25?
-
-
-
Aug. 13
Sep. 3
15.5
24.4
-50
-110 1.98 37.4 1.75
0.88
>500 -3.0
Sep. 18
0.93
1.29
Sep. 18
1.25
4.6
Sep. 18
0.9
1.2
1.9
3.0
46?
-
Sep. 18
0.46
0.49
0.72
1.2
2.0?
-
Oct. 14
230?
2.8
1.3
2.7
5*8?
-
Nov. 26
027
0.37
0.75
decayed
-
-
Dec. 17
0.5
5.1
470?
-
-
Dec. 28
0.33
0.66
7*8?
-
-
32?
48 2.2
>500
* Flash periods for these satellites may possibly be twice the quoted values.
Pergamon Pm
Ltd.
Printed in Northern Ireland
THE VISUAL APPEARANCE OF ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITES Valley Planetarium,
J. A. PILKINGTON Weaponness Valley Rd, Scarborough,
Yorks.
(Received 18 May 1967) Abstract-The paper lists the stellar magnitudes of satellites observed from the U.K. during 1966. Statistically derived values are given which describe the fluctuating or constant magnitudes and the rates of flashing.
The following TabIes contain the results of an analysis of the appearance of art~cial satelfites from Britain. This paper forms a supplement to the analysis of 1957-1965 observations already published, (I) the stellar magnitudes in Table 1 being derived from 4300 transits of 100 satellites observed by U.K. optical tracking stations during the year 1966. All magnitudes may be assumed positive (unless a minus sign appears), the figures in brackets being the number of estimates used to derive the value given. Most British observers are equipped to acquire satellites brighter than magnitude 9. Satellites no Ionger in orbit on January 1, 1967 are indicated by “@“. In Table 1 the column ‘Magnitude range’ shows the extremes of magnitude reported for the satellite. When variations were noted between magnitudes &fmin and M,,,, the column ‘Mean variation’ gives the means of the vahtes of .&&, and Iw,,,. The ‘Mean steady’ column refers to transits when no variations were reported. The ‘Flash range’ coIumn gives the extreme observed values for the satellites’ flash periods, and the ‘Mean flash’ column the mean of these estimates, in seconds. In cases where estimates were numerous, or the satellite’s orbit or flashing changed, the year’s observations have been divided into two sections, the ‘General appearance’ column giving the months each section covers. The concise supplementary Table 2 gives data on satellites which were very steady in appearance, infrequently observed from Britain, or tracked from Iower latitudes through their orbits having inclinations less than40’. These low-inc~nation satellites would obviously have appeared fainter than the tabulated value, had they been seen from the U.K. Although the computations take no account of the slant range or phase angle with the Sun for individual transits, good agreement is seen between identical satellites in similar near-circular orbits. Discrepancies occur with increasingly elliptical orbits and irregularly shaped spacecraft, Using this data in conjunction with the satellite orbits compiled in the Royal Aircraft Establishment’s Table of Artificial Satellites,(2~3)absolute magnitudes for a specific slant range can be calculated. In this connection, mean geographic co-ordinates applicable to these Tables were derived from the co-ordinates of the forty stations between latitudes 489” and 57rN, weighted according to the proportion of the 8300 transits each observed during 1966. The results areLatitude 53~25”North; Longitude @64” West; Height 58 metres above M.S.L. Probable shapes and sizes for unidentified Cosmos and other Soviet spacecraft have been calculated from the absolute magnitudes and published,(*) assuming a l-m dia. sphere at IO00 km slant range to appear as magnitude +7.84. Although more accurate signature analysis investigations could be made were refined photometric recordings available, the 1535
1536
J. A. PILKINGTON
author has derived improved dimensions for many Soviet spacecraft using the observed ma~tudes, slant ranges, and theoretical magnitude vs. cross-sectional area curves given by the Space Sciences Laboratory. t5) The magnitude data listed may also give an indication of the degradation of satehite reflectivity with increasing time in orbit. SATELLITE FLASH PERIODS
The curves and tables showing the variation of satellite flash period with time, given in Ref. (1) and Ref. (6) are continued here in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Table 3, together with some
July
Aug.
1
Sep.
1
Oct.
1
Nav.
1
Dec.
1
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
1965
Apr.
1May 1June 1July ’ Aug. ’ Sep. ’ Oct. ’ Nov. ’ Dec. 1966
I
Date
FIG. 1. SATELLITE FLASH PERIODS.
values for new spacecraft. Four rocket bodies exhibit irregular curves, probably due to venting of gas from small stabilisation rockets or rupture of pressurized tanks. Nimbus 1 rocket (1964-52B) tumbled about once per minute from launch to October 1965, decreased its period to 4 set by March 1966, and then dampened rapidly. O.G.O. 2 rocket (19658lB) exhibited rather similar behaviour, being fairiy stable initially, flashing every 3 to 1.3 set between February and October 1966, and then slowing once again. Cosmos 54 rocket (1965-110) showed irreguIar long period variations during 1965, accelerated its flash rate from 19 to 4.2 set between January and June 1966, and now appears to be dampening at a near-normal rate. Finally a third Agena rocket (196516J) which showed unusual activity in 1965, slowed fairly normally during 1966 apart from a slight spin-down in March.
VISUAL APPEARANCE
OF ARTIFICIAL
EARTH SATELLITES
1537
Mention is made in Table 1 of three other rocket bodies which performed spin-ups after being initiahy steady. The Ablestar 1964-8314 started flashing every 2.1 see between 4 and 15 September 1966. Another Ablestar, 196565B, began flashing about 15 October 1965 with a period of 2.3 set and has since slowed to over 5 sec. Finalfy Nimbus 2 rocket
- JI FIG. 2. PHWD
0~ FLASHING, sec.
(1966-4~B~ started to flash in roughly 4 see between July and December 1966, There are also indications that Cosmos 116 rocket (1966-36B) and Cosmos 119 (1966-4314) tumbled faster as their lives progressed. Through an increased number of photome~ic observations being available from KesselLo, Belgium and other stations this year, it has been possible to expand Table 3 considerably. In cases where it was not possible to distinguish between whole or half-period flashes through inte~ming~ng, values for some of the indicated satellites may all need to be doubled.
1538
J. A. PILKINGTON
However, in the majority of cases throughout the paper, the flash period represents a 180” rotation of the satellite. It is interesting to note how satellites such as Cosmos 55, 82, and 88 were subjected to much stronger magnetic damping than was experienced by the companion satellites and rockets in very similar orbits, suggesting they contained metals of a very different magnetic susceptibility. The curves for Cosmos 70 and 97 rockets probably depart from linearity as a result of the increased atmospheric damping experienced during the objects’ descent. Attempts to explain the shape and slope of the flash curves would require knowledge of the satellites metallic construction and their initial motion. (‘1 It is felt that the tabulated data may lead to a method of determining the magnetic field at various heights above the Earth’s surface, and investigating the temporal and geograp~cal changes in the field strength. Ackn~wiedge~ent~-~ am greatly indebted to the SatelliteOrbits Group of tie Radio and Space Research Station for supplying me with the satellite data used in papers during the last 4 years. I would also like to thank Mr. D. G. King-Hele of the Royal Aircraft Establishment for his reading of the drafts and helpful advice. REFERENCES 1. J. A. PILKINGTON, PImet. Space Sci. 12,597 (1964); 13,541 (1965); 14, 1281 (1966). 2. J. M. REES and D. G. KING-HELE, Planet. Space Sci. 11, 1053 (1963). 3. D. G. KING-HELE and E. QUINN, PZanet. Space Sci. 12, 681 (1964); 13, 707 (1965); 14,817 (1966). 4. J. A. PILKINGTON, Flight Znt. 84, 977 (1963); 85, 784 (1964); 85, 946 (1964): 86, 605 (1964): 87, 381 (1965). 5. G. A. MCCUE, J. G. WILLIAMS,H. J. DUPRIEand R. C. HOY, North American Aviation Rept. No. SID 65-1176 (1965). 6. D. G. &NG-HELE and E. QUINN, R.A.E. Technical Memorandum Space 52 (1965). 7. J. G. WILUSMS and G. A. McCua, Planet. Space Sci. 14,839 (1966).
Pearo,vre--Pa6oTa nepe=mcntzeT Ben%iKo6pYrTamiH~1966 fogy. Ko~eBnrolylcIecK mm
nocTomKhIe
3BesAHne BenwiYIHMCIS~THIIKOB, ~a6~~~~rn~xc~ B npHBOAFITCR CTaTBCTEIY@CKEleASaHHbleOnllCbfBaH)UfBeIix BeJlmUMKbI,aTaHxteTeMnn
sixbmrami~.
Agena D (1963-03A) @ Explorer 17 (1963-A) “Midas 6” (1963-14A)
Anna IB rocket (1962 B-Mu 2) Injun 3 (1962 B-Tau 2) Injun 3 rocket (1962 B-Tau 6)
Transit 1B (1960 Gamma 2) Trasit 2A rocket (1960 Eta 3) Echo 1 rocket (1960 Iota 2) Samas 2 (1961 Alpha 1) Midas 3 (1961 Sigma 1) Midas 4 (1961 A-Delta 1) “Midas 5” (1962 Kappa 1) Ariel 1 (1962 Omicron 1) Ariel 1 rocket (1962 Omicron 2) Alouette 1 rocket (1962 B-Alpha 2) “Star-rad”’ (1962 B-Kappa 1)
Name (Designation)
1 s;S&
4&9
2az9
2 & 10
-l&10
5 & 10
(9) (7) 6.1 to 8-4 (7) (7)
-
20&60
5&1OO
-
15 & 23& -
6 & IO
24 & 62
l&20
-
1%& 42%
120 & 240
53*2 (1)
34.3 (16)
(2)
(2) > 120 (1) 52.5
& 11.3 (36) 17.7 ‘:‘3
428 (17)
(1.5)
%! (1) 13.1
10.1 (13) 190 (4) 5.9
Steady, or slowly varying
Steady
Period slowing from 23-6-60 set
Slowly fading, July-Dec.
Steady or variable, Jan.-June
Steady, sometimes irregular variations
Period slowing from 6.9-9.3 set, Jan .-June Period slowing from 9-4-14.2 set, July-Dec. Period slowing from 15-21.8 set 7
Flashing slowing down?
Steady or slowly flashing
Steady, with sharp flashes
Irregular flashing
Steady, occasional slow variations
Flashes in triplets?
Steady, occasionally slowty fading
4 & 18%
Steady
(1) -
Steady, or slightly variable
Steady
General appearance
O-5
Mean flash
--
Flash range
4&9
n 9.1 (15) 6.9 (11) 7-2
Meeil steady
4&l&$
(13) 5‘4 to (22) 3.5 to (16) 3.8 to
(3) 6.7 (3) 9.0 (3) 56 (16) 8.5 (19) 8.5 (6) 8.1 (8122)
to 6.0
(4) 5.2 to (4) 8.3 to (5) 4.1 to (24) 5-4 to (19) 6.2 to (6) 5.2 to (4128) to
5.9
Mean variation
*8r11
1 &lO
2&8
3 & 12
3 &lo
3&9
5&9
4&9
2&9
I* & 10
44 & 8
4&8
Magnitude range
TABLE 1. SATELLITEMAGNITUDES
Echo 2 rocket (1964-W%) Elektron 2 rocket (1964-06D) Agena D (1964-l IA) Ariel2 (1964-l5A) Ariel 2 racket (1964-15B) @ Polyot 2 (1964-19B) Agena D (196435A) Explorer 20 (1964-51A) Nimbus f (1964-52A) Nimbus 1 rocket (1964-52B)
Pofyoi 1 (1963-43A) Ablestar rocket (1963-49A) Explorer I9 (1963-53A)
Geophysics Satebite (1963.26A) Agena B (1963-27A) “Midas 7” (1963-30A) Dash 2 balloon (1963”3OD)
Name (Designation)
3&9
3&5)
Sk&9
1* &8
2;a & 5
4 &IO
56 & 10
O&9
7&9j$
4&9
la & lop
-
t;:,
Period slowing from 3.0-150 set
Period slowing from 3.5-6.0 stx
Regular flashiig, period slowing? 3.1 (6) 4.0 (0 2t & 3a-
Steady, occasionally brightening
-
-
Steady, or very slowly varying
-
Varying, period about 28 see?
Steady, with irregular variations
-
-
Steady, occasionally brightening
-
(4”, -
Varying, period almost constant
Slowly varying, or steady
Steady, July-Dec.
Steady, Jan.-June
Steady, with very slow fades
Period slowing from 6-360 see?
Steady, July-Dec.
Steady, Jan-June
Regular flashing and fading.
Period slowing from 9.3-23.3 set
Period slowing from 13.3-30 set
General appearance
lir&l$
30 & 135
-
75 (I) 7.5 (27) 8.9 (4) 4.6 (8) 8+! (61 8.6 (7) 43 (2) 6.5 (6) 8.9 (7) 5.3 (2) 6.1 (13)
-
7.0 to (1) 53 to (29) 7.7 to (4) 2.4 to (9) 7*2 to (6) 6.2 to (9) 27 to (2) 3.4 to (7) 7.0 to (7) 3*5 to (2) 3.9 to (14)
-
3&R
3 &Sk
-
-
-
4&X
2&7
-
147 (6) 13.4 (36) 33-o (8) -
Mean flash
(“;,” -
3 & 10
7.3 to 8.3
-
S&9
5&10&
26& & 43
2g & 12
5 & 234
Flash range
7 &21
5.9 to 8.2
5&9
Mean steady
1 &lO
Mean variation
Magnitude range
TABLE 1 (Conrinued) 0
E
Cosmos 58 (1965-14A) Cosmos 58 rocket (1965-14B) Agena D rocket (1965-16J) Ablestar rocket (1965-17C) Altair rocket (1965-21C) Snapshot nosecap (1965-27C) Thor Aitair payload (196%38A) Altair rocket (1965-38B) USAF octagon (196%5OA) @ Cosmos 70 (196%52A) Q Cosmos 70 rocket (1965-52B)
Ablestar rocket (1964.83A) Thor Altair payload (1965-93A) @ Cosmos 53 (1965”06A) Cosmos 54 rocket (1965-1113)
Cosmos 44 (1964-53A) Cosmos 44 rocket (1964-53B) Explorer 23 (1964.74A) Explorer 24 (19647619)
O&10
l&S&
2&9
5&P
5&7
3 &8g
6&9
2&8
3&9
3&8
3 &73
O&9
14 & 10
3+ 8~8
44&9
4&8
3%&9
23 & 8
lg&lO
4&8
l&9
(2) 4.3 to (17) 6*O to (4) 6.6 to (8) 5.2 to (5) 44 to (6) 2.7 to (30)
(6) 55 to (9) 4.2 to (36) 4.1 to ‘;“p to
4.3 to (25) 5.1 to (4) 2.3 to (8) 5.0 to (4) 60 to (4) 4.0 to (2) 55 to (3) 4-6 to (7) 4.0 to (49) 4-O to y;jto
9‘0 (2) 84 (5) 6.7 (5) 5.1 (24)
(L 7.6 (4) -
(3) 6.0 (4) 6.7 (25) 6.0 ri
6.6 (21) 5.8 (4) 9.1 (7) 6.2 (4) 7.1 (4) 7-5 (2) 8.7 (3) 62 (5) 6.3 (34) 6-6 6(lg2)
i&S
-
-
l&2
-
4&4)
-
a&2
lt &27
-
-
3&8
54
4 & 15
Steady
Steady
Period slowing from 4.2 to 5.3 SW
(Y)
(42) 5.0 (1) 4”1 (7) 0.47 (3) 1.8 (7) I.0 (2) 25 (1)
Period slowing from 0.76 to 65 set
Four flashes then gap; period slowing 0.8-1.5 see Steady, or slight variation
Period slowing from 1-6 to 2.7 set?
Flickering
Regular flashing
Period slowing from 3 to 7.4 set?
Period i-5-27*8 sec. Spin-down in March (iii) Flickering. Period from O-60 to 1-I set 0.75
-
(3;) -
01
0.5 (1) Period quickening from 18.9-4.2 set
Steady to Sept., then period slowing 2.L2.7 set Brief flashes, period from 25 to 3.5 set
2.8 (3) 3.9
0)
Steady, period 4 SK? Jufy-Dec.
-
-
-
2&4
-
Period slowing from 21*5-200 see?
44.2 (7) Steady, Jan-June
Fairly steady. Period slowing from 19 to48 set? Steady
13.4 (5) W
Alouette 2 (196598A) Alouette 2 rocket (1965.98C) France 1 (1965101A) France 1 rocket (1965-1OlB) Cosmos 100 (196%106A) Cosmos 100 rocket (196%106B)
USAF octagon (196%62B) Ablestar/Surcal (1965-65B) Cosmos 80 rocket (196%70F) Ahair rocket (1965-721)) Cosmos 86 rocket (196.5-73F) Orb. Geo. Obs. 2 (1965-81A) O.G.O. 2 rocket (1965-81B) Explorer 29 (196%89A) Cosmos 97 (1965-95A) Cosmos 97 rocket (1965-95B)
Cosmos 71 rocket (19&T-53F)
Name (Designation)
3&8
248~7
5&9
S&P
3*8c7
2&9
2&9
--i&8
4&9
5 & 114
l&P
2&10
4&9
6&9
48~8
5&8
7P&89
2&S&
248~9
Magnitude range
(34) 8.5 (2) 7.0 (5) 6.8 (7) 9.0 (1) 6.9 (8) 6.9 (22) 7-O ‘8’;) (2) 7.7 (4) 5.7 (8) 5.9 (20) 7.9 ?! (6) 8.9 (3) 9‘0 (3) 5.2 (3) 6.4 (13)
(33) 80 to (2) 52 to (5) 5.4 to (9) 6-O to (2) 5.0 to (9) 4.8 to (22) 4.2 to 0 to (4) 5.7 to (6) 3.5 to (13) 4.1 to (26) 4.1 to (X0 (7) 6.8 to (4) 5.5 to (3) 4.1 to (4) 4,4 to (13)
3.5 to 6-5 ‘3”:’ to ‘5’;)
Mean variation
\Y) (17)
(4) 5.0 (1) 8.2 (4) 8.0 (1) 4.4
$i)
$89
;“,
0
&
5.2 (9) 7.2 (9)
(1)
6.0
:;;
(2)
50
Mean steady
TABLE 1 (Confinued)
i&5
-
6 & 12
t & 22
5+&6f
2&20
i&l
O&t
-
.-
l&5&
60 & 79
4&l
2&2&
29 & 363
3it & 34
-
4 & 17
l&&S%
Flash range
2.6 (7)
(92; -
t;:
(8) 6.3 (3)
0.30 (12) 0.67 ‘:;)
-
$) _-
3-4 (3) 31.7 (3) 22 (2) 0.66 (9) 69.5 (2)
Mean flash
variations
Irregular flashing, period 06-58 set
Steady, with slight variations
Siowly varying
Rapid irregular variations
Fluctuating slowly
Slowly flashing
Period 0.42-0*85 see July-Dec.
Period 0.28-0.42 set Jan.-June
Steady or slightly variable
Lamp flashes to magnitude 55(11)
Period increasing 18.7-1.7 set
Long-period
Flashing; period &owing from 1.45 to 3.1 sec. Period slowing from 0.49 to 0.98 SW:
Period slowing from 21 to 49 set?
Period slowing from 2.7 to 5.4 set
Irregular variations ; period 0.66-l *3set
Period 14-4~8 sec. Alternate flashes to 311% 6& Jan.-June Period 48-20 set, July-Dec.
General appearance
8 3 2
g
z
?
9
2
+.
@ Cosmos 101 rocket (196%107B) Altair rocket (1965-109B) Cosmos 103 (1965-112A) Cosmos 103 rocket (1965-1128) @ Cosmos 106 (1966-04A) @ Cosmos 106 rocket (196604s) Altair rocket (1966.OSB) Agena D (1966-09A) @ Cosmos 108 (1966-DA) @ Cosmos 108 rocket (1966-11B) @ Cosmos 110 rocket (1966-15B) @ Cosmos 11.5rocket (1966-338) @ Cosmos 116 rocket (1966-36B) @ Cosmos 117 rocket (1966-37B) Cosmos 118 (1966.38A) Cosmos 118 rocket (1966-38B) USAF octagon (1966-39B) Nimbus 2 rocket (1966-4OB) @ Cosmos 119 (1966-43 A) Explorer 32 (1966~44A) Explorer 32 rocket (1966&B) 2.5
-
8&&
4 & 16
-
l&3
i&l&
+&I
48c1ot
5.9 to 8.9 (16) (10)
38~6
it&l
5.1 (14) 3.5 (1) 6.0 (1) 67 (17) 8.2 (4) 5-6
2.6 to (35) 3.1 to (3) 2.7 to (2) 4.3 to (21) 5.7 to (6) 4.6 to
(1)
4 & 212
4.8 (7)
8.6 (12) 0.36 (5) -
;z, 0.72 (2) 0.97 (35) 1.7 (3) -
(13)
0.49
it&l4
j)
-
(
0.61 (42) 10.0 (3) 0.43 “pl?)
(3) -
Steady; brief flashes to 5.6 & 6.6 alternately Slowly varying
Steady; started to flash in 4 SBC in Sept? slowed to 5.9 sec. Fiasbing increasing 25-15 see?
Period slowing from 0.57 to @98 see?
Period slowing from 6 to 18 set?
Steady
FM-ring or steady
Period quickening from I.1 to 0.7 set?
Rapid fiashing
Alternate maxima of -4 and 34
Period slowing from O-2 to @4 set?
Steady
Steady
Slowly varying
Rapid flashing
Fairly steady
Flashing slowing from 0.33 to 2.25 set
Steady
Period slowing from 1.2 to 1.5 set i;40) Slowly varying 5.0
‘5.0 (1) -
-
6&11;:
P&1
3 &20
a & 2%
-
3&6
l&&2
3 & 10
(2)
(2)
0 -
(4;:) 6.1 (7)
5.3 (31)
(11
3.3 (3) 7.0
x &2.+
(2) 4.5 (10 8.1 (4) 6.1 (4) 6.0 (3) 6.1 (8) 5.7 (l-7) 7-3
(2)
5.0 (3) 8.0 (I) 6.2 (4) 6.0 (45) 7.7
27 to (32) 5.7 to (4) 4.1 to (5) 5.0 to (3) 3.2 to (16) 1.5 to (23) 42 to
1.9 to (11) 6.6 to (2) 4.1 to (6) 3.4 to (55) 6.1 to
O&6
3&&7
J&9
3&9
l&&7
O&4
l&6
2&8
-_?t&8
l&8
5 & 6k
2+&7
S&9
6&8
5&8
2&9
3$&7
59&S
O&6
Y LI c
m P
$
%
$
% G+i
2
;;
c
Name
Pageos 1.rocket (1966-56B) Cosmos 122 rocket (1966-57B) @ Proton 3 (1966-60A) @ Proton 3 rocket (1966-60B) @ Cosmos 123 rocket (1966-61B) USAF octagon (1966-74B) “Midas 8” (1966-77A) @ Cosmos Unknown 1 (1966-88A) “Midas 9” (1966-89A)
@ Agena D (1966-5112) Pageos 1 (1966-56A)
(Designation)
4& & 9
3 &Sb
4&9
5&9
l&7
-3&7
O&6
3&7
6&9&
1%&4
K’to (2, 6.0 to (15) 4-7 to (2) 5.5 to (13)
8(? (2) 7.8 (14) 8.5 (1) 7.9 (12)
3.1 to 5.3 (58) (46) 24 to 3.6 (42) (40) 2.4 to 3.4 (26) (25) 8.1 to 9.3 (25) (23) 4.0 to 6.1 (5) (4) 1.4 to 3.5 (8) (6) - -0.6 to 4.6 (8) (8) 2.9 to 5.7
-2&8
l&&8&
Mean variation
Magnitude range
(z)
(1)
;;)
& -0.5 (11) 2-o (6) 6.8 (4)
cn
p%
;:)
048)
c:k’, 3-1
Mean steady
TABLE 1 (Continued)
&&a
-
t&t
t&a
1$&3
30&40
-
g&l5
t&l
-
304 & 90
20 & 90
Flash range
0.57 (10)
(2) 0.61 (6) -
33-3 (3) 2-1 $)
(3) -
0.57 f;)
44.2 (4) 60.2 (2) -
Mean flash
Steady, or rapid variations
Varying irregularly
Steady, sometimes varying rapidly
Period slowing from 0.77 to 0.91 xc
Flashing slowly from 1.2 to 11 set?
Steady, or slowIy varying
Steady, some slow variations
Flashing slowing from 1 to 12 set?
Flashing, period constant ?
Almost steady Oct.-Dec.
Trains of flashes at 0.67 se@) intervals Slow slight variations June-Sept .
General appearance
VISUAL
APPEARANCE
OF ARTIFICIAL
EARTH
SATELLITES
TABLE 2. SUPPLEMENTARYLIST Satellite Explorer 1 Vanguard 2 Vanguard 3 Explorer 7 Transit 2A Samos 2 nosecap Transit 4A Ablestar fragment Midas 5 fragment Tiros 6 v Alouette 1 Snhere Sphere Exolorer 16 Teistar 2 Tiros 7 Ablestar rocket APL Radiation Polyot 1 fragment Centaur 2 Centaur 2 fragment Centaur 2 fragment Agena D rocket Solar Radiation 5 Pickaback Agena D rocket Echo 2 hemisphere Saturn 5 Elektron 1 Agena D rocket Elektron 3 Elektron 4 rocket Radiation P. 11 Cosmos 41 rocket Ablestar rocket Explorer 22 Agena D Transit Pegasus 1 Cosmos 54 Solar Radiation 6 Surcal 2 Pickaback Rocket fragment Rocket fragment Rocket fragment Rocket fragment Thor Altair payload Snapshot Explorer 27 Pegasus 2 Apollo 4 Transit ? Ablestar rocket Tiros 10 rocket Cosmos 71 Cosmos 73 Cosmos 75 Fragment
Designation 1958 Alpha 1 1959 Alpha 1 1959 Eta 1 1959 Iota 1 1960 Eta 1 1961 Alpha 2 1961 Omicron 1 1961 Omicron 3 1962 Kaopa 3 1962 A-Psi 1 1962 B-Alvha 1 1962 B-Ta; 1 1962-B-Tau 5 1962 B-Chi 1 1963-138 1963-24A 1963-3819 1963-38C 1963-43B 1963-47A 1963-47C 1963-47F 1964-OlA 1964-OlD 1964-OlE 1964-02A 196404E 1964-05A 1964-06A 1964-3lC 1964-38A 1964-381) 1964-45B 1964-49E 1964-63A 1964&A 1964-72A 1964-83D 196%09A 1965-11A 1965-16A 1965-16G 1965-17D 1965-20E 1965-20P 1965-20AA 1965-20AR 1965-21A 1965-27A 1965-32A 1965-39A 1965-39B 196548A 1965-48C 1965-51B 1965-53A 196.5-53C 1965-53E 1965-535
Magnitude 8.6(12), range 7f & lOa_ 94(22), 9.2 to 10.5(2) 9.1(18), range 7 & 104 7.2(3), 75 (4) to 9.5(2) 6.7(13), range 54 & 8 7.5(2), range 3 & S& 7,2(3), range 64 & 8 6.0 (2) to 10 in 18 se&A lo-5to 11 varying, losteady 7 to 7.5, occasional +6 flashes 3.5 to 7.5 in 3 set(2) 7.7(3), range 6 & 83 8.0 to 85 2.6 to 6*6(5), range 0 & 9 8.9(2), range 7 % 9 7.2(3), 48(3) flickers 5.7(9), range 4 & 78 5-4 to 7*8(3), range l& & 8 5.5 to 8.0 varying 5.1(8), 4.7 to 5.3(2) 8.8(2), range 84 & 9 9.0(3), range 84 & 9 5.0(20), 4.7 to 6.8(2) 6-7 to.75, S-O(l) varying 7*0(l). 65 to 80(l) 4.5(2), range 4 & 5 2.0 sharp t&h in 0.7 see 3.2(18). ranee -1 & 6 8.4&j; ranie 7 & 115 5+0(2) steady 8.3(21), range 6 & 10 6.0 to 8*2(2) in @7 set 7.0 period l-5 set? 6.0(l) steady 5.5 to 8+0(2) long period 7.2(3), 4 to 6 3*2(17), 2.0 to 4.2(2) 6.7(6), 7 to 8 steady 3*4(7), range 2) & 44 6.7 to 7*0(2), 64 max 4-5 to 5.5 (1) varying 5.0 to 75(2), 6.0 varying 8+0(l) steady 5.7(2) steady, range 5& & 6 5.0 to 7*0(l) 41(7), 47 to 6-O(2), slow Sash 4.6(7), 4.7 to 6.5(5), varying 5-O flashes in 0.5 set 5.4(34), range 3 & 74 9.0 to 11.5 in 2.5 set 3.6(9), range 1 & 5 4.0(2), range 3 & 5 7.3(7), . ,. 5.9 to 7-O(2). steadv 4*8(7), 45 to 75(j ’ 8.0. veriod slowine 4-9 to 6.6 set 4.1 ‘tb 7.0(3) rang;3 & 7 6.0 to 7-O Bickering 5.0 to 75 steady fading 6.5 to 85(2) flashing
1545
1546
J. A. PILKIN~~ON TABLE 2 (Continued)
Satellite Agena D Cosmos 76 Pegasus 3 Abciestar fragment Dodecahedron 2 Transit Ablestar fragment Surcal Cosmos 82 0-V. l-2 rocket Mo~iya 1B Proton 2 Proton 2 rocket Explorer 30 Explorer 30 rocket Cosmos 98 rocket Explorer 3 1 Deha second stage Cosmos 101 Transit ? Rocket fragment Cosmos 104 Cosmos 104 rocket Cosmos 105 Scout payload Luna 9 launcher Essa 1 Essa 1 fragment Diapason ‘i Diaoason 1 rocket CoS;nos 109 Cosmos 110 Essa 2 Essa 2 rocket Target Agena 8 Cosmos 112 Cosmos 112 rocket Cosmos 113 Cosmos 113 rocket Transit ? Ahair rocket Thor Ahair payload Altair rocket Luna 10 launcher rocket Cosmos 114 Cosmos 114 rocket Agena D capsule Cosmos 115 Orbiting Vehicle 3-1 O.V. 3-l rocket Cosmos 116 Cosmos 117 Nimbus 2 Transit ? Ahair rocket A.T.D.A. Orbiting Vehicle 3-4 cosmos 121 Cosmos 121 rocket
Designation 196555A 1965-59A 1965-60A 1965-65A 1965-65C 1965-65F 1965-65G 1965-65K 1965-70C 1965-78B 1965~80A 1965~87A 1965-87B 1965-93A 196%93B 1965-97B 1965-98B 1965-105B 1965-107A 1965-109A 1965-112C 1966-OlA 1966-OlB 1966-03A 1966-05A 1966&B 1966OSA 196608C 1966-13A 1966-13B 1966-14A 1966-15A 196616A 196616B 1966-19A 1966-21A 1966-21B 1966-23A 196623B 1966-24A 1966-24B 1966-26A 1966-26B 1966-27C 1966-28A 1966-28B 1966-32A 1966-33A 1966-34A 196634B 1966-36A 1966-37A 196640A 1966-4114 196641B 1966-46A 1966-52A 1966-54A 196654B
Magnitude 4*3(9), 1.9 to 4.5(4), range -& & 68 6*8(2), range 6J & 7 3*3(3), range 3 & 3) 7.7 to 8*8(2) varying 6-O to 8*1(4), 8.2 steady 6*9(8), range 5 & 86 8.3 to 95, 8.2 steady 6.3 to 9*0(2), 7.7 in 1.8 see 8-O to invisible, flashing 7.0 to invisible 6.0 Z-2(3), range 1 & 4 20 to 3.0 8.0 to invisible in 05 see 50 to 9.0 in 5 set(1) regularly 1 to 3 flashing in 2 sec. 7.0 to 7.9(4) in 26 sec. 7*0(2), range 6 & 8 5.7 to 7-O(2), range 5 & 7 78(6), range 7 & 8) 7.5 brief flashes 3*0(2), range 2 & 4 2.0 to 3.5(2) in 0.77 set (2) 2.0 steady. 7*4(4), 6.5 to 77(3) 73(2), 6-O to 7.0 ‘75 to 85(2) varying 8.3 to 10.0 Bashing S-2(2), range 8 & 84 90(4), range 8 & 10 1+4(7), 1.8 to 28(3) 3*7(16), 25 to 41(S) steady 6*3(3), range 5 & 9 9-O to 10.0 in 2 sec. 4*6(4), range 3 & 6 2~9(5), range 2 & 4 3.7 to 6.0(4), 2.0 in O-5 set 2*4(13), range 16 & 44 1.2 to 4*5(2) in 5 set, range 0 & 7 5.4 to 7.8(3), 7-5(3) 65(2) max, range 5 & 8 7.0 to 8.0 in l-4 sec. 6.5 to 7-O in 5 sec. 3.0 to 5.0, 3.5 varying 3.0 steady 2.0 steady 2.5 steady 3*2(3), range 2 & 4t 4.9 to 7*0(3), 7*0(2) 8.0 max S-9(4), 65 to invis 1*3(3), range 1 & 2 65(14), 5.4 to 7*0(3) 5.0 to 8,8(3), 7-O(2) in 10 SW 9.0 0*0(2), range -1 & 1 7.0 to invisible 2*7(3), range 14 & 4f 3.0 steady
VISUAL
APPEARANCE
OF ARTIFICIAL
EARTH
SATELLITES
1547
TABLE 2 (Continued) Designation
Satellite
Magnitude
1966-55A 1966-56C 196657A 1966-58B 1966&C 1966-61A 1966-62A 1966-67A 1966-69A 1966-74A 1966-79A 1966-79B 1966-82A 1966-82B 1966-83B 1966-91B 1966-92A 1966-92C 1966-93B 1966-97B 1966-99B 1966-99D 1966-1OlG 1966-107A 1966-112A 1966-112B
Agena D Pageos 1 fragment Cosmos 122 Delta second stage Proton 3 fragment Cosmos 123 Capsule Cosmos 125 Agena D Capsule Cosmos 128 Cosmos 128 rocket Thor Burner 2 payload Burner 2 rocket USAF octagon Cosmos 129 rocket Molniya 1D Molniya launcher rocket Cosmos 130 rocket O.V. 3-2 rocket Orbiting Vehicle 4-1R Orbiting Vehicle 4-1T Cosmos U.2 capsule Cosmos 133 Cosmos 135 Cosmos 135 rocket
3.0 steady 11.0, 10.0 max. 5.3(13), range 3f & 7 0.0(2) steady 4.0, 3.0 max. 5.0, 7.0 to 8.0 4.0 steady 2.0 to 5.0 in 0.6 sec. 2.0 to 6.0, 4.0 fading 5.0 to 6.0 3.3(3), 1.0 to 3.0 steady 0.5(2), 1.0 to 6.0 in 1.5 set 6.6 to 85(4), 7.3(3) 7.0 to 9.0 in 3.0 sec. 7.0, period 0.5 to 0.7 set? 2.7 to 5.0(2) in 2.9(2) set 8.7(3), 8.5 to 9.0 3.6 steady 1.0 to 2.0, 2.0 varying 8.0, 7.0 max in 1 set 58(2), range 5 & 6f 7.0 steady 9.5, 9.0 max 0.0 to 1.0 5.7(3), 5.0 to 6.0 2.4 to 4.5(4) in 0.3 set, 2.5 (2)
TABLE 3. SATELLITEFLASHPERIODS Flash period (set) Satellite Star-rad (1962 B-Kappa 1) Agena D (1963-03A) Altair rocket (1963-05A) Geophysics (1963-26A) Agena D (1963-27A)
Nimbus 1 (196452A) Nimbus 1 rocket (1964-52B) Thor Altair (1965-03A) * Cosmos 55 (1965-11B) Cosmos 54 rocket (1965-11D)
Launch date
Time after launch (months) 30 36
18
24
Oct. 26
2.6
3.6
4.3
Jan. 16
6.4
9.9
Feb. 19
4.6
Jun. 28 Jun. 29
42
48
6.8
8.1
12.5
16.1
24.5
41.2
62.5
6.0
7.7
9.9
13.1
17.5
6.8
9.6
13.2
20.4
30?
-
3.8
5.8
9.3
23.6
23.6
38?
0
6
24
30
Aug. 28
1.8
2.3
3.8
4.9
6.6
Aug. 28
>60
>60
3.9
9.2
19
Jan. 19
1.8
2.1
2.5
3.0
3.6
4.4
Feb. 21
2.2
4.6
13.5
>lOO
-
-
Feb. 21
-40 ?
124
16.0
4.6
5.3
6.2?
Time after launch (months) 12 18 3.0 >60
1548
J. A. PILKINGTON TABLE 3
(Continued) Flash period (set)
Satellite
Launch date 0
Agena D rocket (1965-165) Ablestar rocket (1965-17C) * Cosmos 61 (1965-2OA) Altair rocket (1965-21C) USAF octagon (1965-31B) Altair rocket (1965-38B) USAF octagon (1965-50A) * Tiros 10 (1965-51A) Tiros 10 rocket (1965-51B) Cosmos 70 rocket (1965-52B) * Cosmos 71 (1965-53A) * Cosmos 75 (1965-53E) Cosmos 71 rocket (1965-53F) USAF octagon (1965-62B) Surcal/Ablestar (1965-65B) * Cosmos 82 (1965-7OC) * Cosmos 84 (1965-70E) Cosmos 80 rocket (1965-70F) * Cosmos 86 (1965-73A) * Cosmos 88 (1965-73C) * Cosmos 90 (1965-73E) Cosmos 86 rocket (1965-73F) O.G.O. 2 rocket (1965-81B) Cosmos 97 rocket (1965-95B) Cosmos 100 rocket (1965-106B) Cosmos 103 rocket (1965-112B)
6 -4.4
Mar. 9
9.6
Mar. 11
0.48
0.55
Mar. 15
3.0
7.7
Mar. 18
1.6
2.4
Apr. 28
1.1
May 20
Time after launch (months) 12 18 2.5 0.65
12.8
24 50
30 -220
1.25
1.8?
>500
-
-
3.6
5.6
8.8
13.7
1.4
1.9
2.7
3.9
6.0
1.3
l-6
2.0
2.6
3.3
4.4?
Jun. 25
0.6
0.8
1.1
1.5
2.0
2.7?
Jul. 2
2.1
2.4
2.8
3.3
4.0
-
Jul. 2
4.0
4.4
5.3
6.5
7.9
96?
Jul. 2
0.43
0.77
-6.5
decayed
-
-
Jul. 16
2.9
9.4
-71.5
>500
-
-
Jul. 16
49
15.5
-120
>500
-
-
Jul. 16
0.42
l-55
5.3
22.1
80?
-
Aug. 3
0.50
0.69
0.98
1.4
2.1
3.2?
>20?
2.9
4.2
5.9
8.2?
-
Sep. 3
0.6
4.7
-
-
Sep. 3
0.88
1.28
4.5 ?
-
57?
-
-
2.4
3.25?
-
-
-
Aug. 13
Sep. 3
15.5
24.4
-50
-110 1.98 37.4 1.75
0.88
>500 -3.0
Sep. 18
0.93
1.29
Sep. 18
1.25
4.6
Sep. 18
0.9
1.2
1.9
3.0
46?
-
Sep. 18
0.46
0.49
0.72
1.2
2.0?
-
Oct. 14
230?
2.8
1.3
2.7
5*8?
-
Nov. 26
027
0.37
0.75
decayed
-
-
Dec. 17
0.5
5.1
470?
-
-
Dec. 28
0.33
0.66
7*8?
-
-
32?
48 2.2
>500
* Flash periods for these satellites may possibly be twice the quoted values.