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[vsnet-obs 4354] Unidentified flying object (UFO)!



Dear Colleagues,

A few nights ago I was reducing a CCD time series (from 10-11. october)
on the star RXJ0028.8+5917.
In the time series I had used 45 second exposures.

On one of the images a bright track appears. It is quite normal to find
satellite
tracks on CCD images. But normally such tracks cross the entire image
(fast moving obejcts).
In this case the track didn't cross the entire image even though the
exposure time
was 45 seconds. Thus I have caught a slowly moving object.

Naturally the object is some kind of satellite. It could be very
interesting to know which one.

At approximately october 11, 0:15:48 UTC the object was at position:
0h 28m 45s
+59 19' 9"

45 seconds later the object was at position:
0h 29m 31s
+59 15' 40"

I know the direction of motion because a part of the track is also
visible at the images before and after in the time series.

These positions are estimated using the GUIDE star chart. 
I also estimated the angular distance during the 45 seconds to approx.
6.7 arcminutes.
PA was approx. 120 degrees.

An angular motion of 6.7' per 45 seconds would imply (assuming a
circular orbit)
an orbital period at approx. 40 hours!!

Maybe these informations will allow somebody with knowledge about
satellite orbits to
calculate which satellite was causing this mysterious slow track.. It
would be nice
to call the object an identified flying object (IFO).

Best Regards

Lasse Teist Jensen