Hello,
I need help identifying what I believe is a satellite. I was observing NGC1023 on Nov 20, 2003 between 10:15PM and 10:24PM eastern standard time. While observing I notice a very faint object moving southwest of the field of view. I notice it because it was pulsating. I followed it and counted the interval of the pulse. I counted around 5 seconds. Compared to the background stars it seems to pulsate between 4 and 9 magnitude. It was very small and wasn't moving fast. I was using a 32mm 1.25 eyepiece on a 5"MCT 2000mm. I tried to time the movement the object edge to edge of the eyepiece. It was somewhere between 50-65 seconds. I followed it for about 10 minutes, approx 15degrees across the sky. I lost it somewhere in Aries near the 41 Arietis star.
I don't think it's a meteor because it's slow and pulsating. I don't think it's an airplane because it seems to be to high. I leave near Newark so I get commercial air traffic all the time and I've seen planes cross my field of view. They're not that small.
I think it's a satellite but what confused me was that it was pulsating. Is there any place where I can find information on what satellites where in orbit at that time?
Below are some addtional information
Thanks and Clear Skies
Ed
Start:
NGC 1023 UGC 2154
J2000 RA: 2h40m24.00s DE:+39°04'00.0"
Date RA: 2h40m38.67s DE:+39°04'59.6"
End:
Star
HR 951 HD 19787
Constellation: Aries
Visual Magnitude: 4.35
J2000 RA: 3h11m37.80s DE:+19°43'36.0"
Date RA: 3h11m51.13s DE:+19°44'28.2"
Equipment
APM Mak 130 - 2000mm
32mm/ 1.25 Plossl eyepiece
EQ3 Mount (manual)
Observer's Location: 40.7960°N, 74.3150°W
Observing date/time: November 20, 2003 10:25-10:39 (approx)
I need help identifying what I believe is a satellite. I was observing NGC1023 on Nov 20, 2003 between 10:15PM and 10:24PM eastern standard time. While observing I notice a very faint object moving southwest of the field of view. I notice it because it was pulsating. I followed it and counted the interval of the pulse. I counted around 5 seconds. Compared to the background stars it seems to pulsate between 4 and 9 magnitude. It was very small and wasn't moving fast. I was using a 32mm 1.25 eyepiece on a 5"MCT 2000mm. I tried to time the movement the object edge to edge of the eyepiece. It was somewhere between 50-65 seconds. I followed it for about 10 minutes, approx 15degrees across the sky. I lost it somewhere in Aries near the 41 Arietis star.
I don't think it's a meteor because it's slow and pulsating. I don't think it's an airplane because it seems to be to high. I leave near Newark so I get commercial air traffic all the time and I've seen planes cross my field of view. They're not that small.
I think it's a satellite but what confused me was that it was pulsating. Is there any place where I can find information on what satellites where in orbit at that time?
Below are some addtional information
Thanks and Clear Skies
Ed
Start:
NGC 1023 UGC 2154
J2000 RA: 2h40m24.00s DE:+39°04'00.0"
Date RA: 2h40m38.67s DE:+39°04'59.6"
End:
Star
HR 951 HD 19787
Constellation: Aries
Visual Magnitude: 4.35
J2000 RA: 3h11m37.80s DE:+19°43'36.0"
Date RA: 3h11m51.13s DE:+19°44'28.2"
Equipment
APM Mak 130 - 2000mm
32mm/ 1.25 Plossl eyepiece
EQ3 Mount (manual)
Observer's Location: 40.7960°N, 74.3150°W
Observing date/time: November 20, 2003 10:25-10:39 (approx)
