What is it? Unidentified tumbling object crossing the Sun

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RJN
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What is it? Unidentified tumbling object crossing the Sun

Post by RJN » Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:31 pm

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/11089837 ... 2637_Z3N2Q
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neufer
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Re: What is it? Unidentified tumbling object crossing the S

Post by neufer » Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:30 pm

The 30m Shuttle Orbiter at 340 km. subtends about 0.3 arc minutes or about 1% the diameter of the Sun.
The 90m International Space Station at 340 km. subtends about a 0.9 arc minutes or about 3% the diameter of the Sun.
Art Neuendorffer
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Chris Peterson
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Re: What is it? Unidentified tumbling object crossing the S

Post by Chris Peterson » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:40 am

My first guess would be a mylar birthday balloon blowing around not far from the telescope. A tumbling satellite is possible, but it looks a bit large; I figure it would be between 10 and 20 meters across if in low Earth orbit.
Chris

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