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Author Topic: US 193  (Read 31880 times)

Offline Satanic Mechanic

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US 193
« on: February 18, 2008, 04:29:23 PM »
Looks like I will get to see the satellite two hours before it gets blown up this Thursday.  Also some additional viewing opportunities this week also.

SM
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Offline LunarOrbit

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Re: US 193
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2008, 05:10:01 PM »
I should have several opportunities to see it (weather permitting) between Feb. 18-20. My best chance will be a 1.7 Mag. pass on Wednesday, but unfortunately I'll be at work (maybe I can sneak out for a couple minutes, but since I'll be in the city the light pollution might make it difficult). There's also a lunar eclipse that night.
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Offline ijuin

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Re: US 193
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2008, 01:53:51 AM »
Well the lunar eclipse means that the moonlight won't be adding to the light pollution, so it will be easier to see the satellite.
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Offline Satanic Mechanic

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Re: US 193
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2008, 11:22:56 AM »
I was unable to see it last night.  I went up to my neighbor's hill which can see the Snake River, the Blue Mountains and into Oregon but no US193.  The satellite had a low arc, too much dust in the atmosphere and the lights on top of the Columbia Grid 500kv lines all interfered with my viewing.  I will have two more viewings over the week.
In other news, a meteorite flashed/boomed the area around 5:35am this morning.  I was still asleep but the media, like chickens with their heads cut off claimed that they blew up US193 over Eastern Washington.  They retracted that news item by 7am.

SM
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Offline Ottawan

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Re: US 193
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2008, 01:10:21 PM »
That's hilarious. Isn't it the media that's informing us there will be no shoot down attempt until after Atlantis lands on Wednesday? Or was this just local guys looking for that ever elusive "Scoop"??!!
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Offline Satanic Mechanic

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Re: US 193
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2008, 02:32:08 PM »
Quote from: Ottawan on February 19, 2008, 01:10:21 PM
Or was this just local guys looking for that ever elusive "Scoop"??!!
Yep, if there is no news, they will make it.  The local news stations around here have about as much science education combined as a chimpanzee does.

SM
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Offline Satanic Mechanic

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Re: US 193
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2008, 09:35:43 PM »
I did get to see it tonight and that SOB is really low.  I normally make observations of the Shuttle and ISS which takes around six to eight minutes to crossover but 193 went across in less than three minutes.  I also saw another satellite go over the flight path of 193.  On the website, they said the magnitude would be around a 1.6 but it was brighter than that.

SM
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Offline LunarOrbit

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Re: US 193
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2008, 11:09:35 PM »
Cool, I'm glad you got to see it.

The passes that Heavens-Above said I would get tomorrow are no longer listed, so I guess I've missed my chance. Now I can just hope the sky will be clear enough to see the lunar eclipse.
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Offline LunarOrbit

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Re: US 193
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2008, 11:26:47 AM »
Well, now that the shuttle is safely on the ground they might shoot at USA193 as early as tonight.
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" We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..."
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Offline Satanic Mechanic

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Re: US 193
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2008, 02:41:42 PM »
Quote from: LunarOrbit on February 20, 2008, 11:26:47 AM
Well, now that the shuttle is safely on the ground they might shoot at USA193 as early as tonight.
I will get a chance to film it tonight two hours before the Navy shoots it down.  Camera is charging right now.  I'll post it on Youtube and link it here.

SM
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Offline Satanic Mechanic

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Re: US 193
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2008, 09:35:23 PM »
I saw it again tonight, not as bright as last night's viewing.  My JVC camera was unable to pick it up.  In less than two hours hopefully the Navy will knock it down.  Who knows, I might be able to see debris come the next pass.

SM
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Offline LunarOrbit

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Re: US 193
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2008, 01:14:34 AM »
Looks like they got it on their first try.

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" We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..."
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