------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1237 1997 Sep 30 20.23UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer ------------------------------------------------------------------- SLOW MOVING OBJECT (=Q1997/069) As long ago as 1997 July 5 John Hosty, Freshwater, Isle of Wight noted a magnitude 6 object during the course of visual work with a 8x30 monocular for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol which was not plotted on atlases: 1997 July 5 22h53mUT 18h06m DEC -8.5deg (2000?) 23 20 18 33 -8.2 23 48 19 10 -8.0 July 6 00 08 19 20 -7.6 00 20 19 40 -7.6 Initially thought to be a nova, movement was eventually detected but the object was moving very slowly and also appeared to vary between magnitude 6.3 and 6.8. It was re-observed on the following night, July 6 in a similar position. Subsequently several letters have been received from John as he has been detecting it regularly although gradually fading in magnitude. It was last seen on Sept 23 but now at magnitude 9.2 and may have stopped fading. From latest observations the observer predicts the following visibility: Sept 25 20 55 UT 0.2deg south of beta Aqr mag 9 26 20 51 ditto 27 20 47 ditto 28 20 43 ditto Direction of travel is reported as West to East. Following an e-mail appeal, numerous replies have been received regarding possible identification although not all in agreement. However the majority agree with Rainer Kracht, Germany and Tony Beresford, Australia who, assuming John's position as latitude 50.67N, longitude 1.5W conclude the object is Milstar 2 (satellite 23712), a US military satellite. Lars Lindhard in Denmark observed the object on 1997 Sept 27 at 20.53UT south of beta Aqr and one minute later passing a star at 21h30m05s DEC -06 20'(2000). He stopped the drive and the object stayed in the centre of the field! We are grateful to all those who provided information and it is hoped, space permitting, that a fuller account will appear in the next issue of TA. 1997 AGM Programmes have now been despatched to all those for whom a booking was received by Sept 28. If you have previously sent a booking and not received a programme by the end of this week please e-mail the Editor. Similarly if a booking has not been sent please despatch this as soon as possible as there is now less than two weeks to the meeting. Guy M Hurst