Echo I (1960-iota) sightings ============================ Observer: Pat Dyer All from the backyard of 279 (now 4579) Lark Avenue, San Antonio, TX (with an unblocked streetlight just west across Maiden Lane at the se corner of that and the then-300 block of Lark) Inspite of efforts to observe other man-made earth-orbiting satellites since the launch of Sputnik in October 1957, it wasn't until nearly three years later (August of 1960) that I was able to see one. The 100' diameter sphere of aluminized Mylar at 900-1000 miles altitude was hard to miss, being spotted on its first dark-sky pass over here on the day of its launch (and perhaps only its orbit #5 or less). This is transcribed from a spiral-bound logbook, maintaining the spelling and punctuation (for better or worse!) as found in the original. Since all the entries were in upper case print, some capitalizations might have been mutated. The -deg was a superscripted "o" in the originals. Some spacing between words/phrases has been currently set arbitrarily for more clarity. Some later (undated) revisions/corrections have been included without note. Unfortunately, this was in my "pre-carbon copy days" for the outgoing mail so the letter sent to the Moonwatch team can not be reconstructed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 12, 1960 2100 Hours: Rose from south in between Jupiter and Saturn, passed close to Altair in Aquila, at about 2102 then went to the northeast at about 2107 Magnitude: +.4 or .2 not as bright as Vega Color: to eyes yellow, through scope yellow (seen for 170-deg of path). Time estimated about 15 minutes, more or less. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x telescope (reflector). This was uncertain to be Echo I so I wrote to the Moonwatch Team at Trinity University for a verification of it. On August 17, 1960 at 1115 Hours came a call from somebody to tell me that my report was correct and accurate. Also that I saw if before they did on the roof. (there) August 15, 1960 2200 Hours, in clouds passed overhead to north west of Vega (in Lyra) - continued northeast until hit heavy cloud bank at 2205 disappeared then. (seen for 80-deg of trail) Time in sky estimated: not more than 15 minutes Magnitude (highest): +.3 not as bright as Vega Seen by eyes, 4x30 binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 16, 1960 2147 passed north west of Vega (in Lyra) at about 8-deg or less away, continued north east and passed near some stars in Cassiopeia (names not known) and some others, the disappeared behind a tree at 2151. (See for 90-deg of trail). Time in sky estimated: about 10 minutes + or - 10% Magnitude (highest): +.1 or maybe brighter than Vega Seen by eyes, 4x30 binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 16, 1960 2340 Hours* Rose in the west, continued, to pass between Pherkad Kochab in Ursa Minor at 2345 closer to Kochab. Then at 2349 passed 2-deg northwest of Polaris in Ursa Minor - level with Mirfak in Perseus (8-deg west) at 2352. Disappeared at 2354 behind a house. (see for 150-deg of path) Highest magnitude: -0 or more. (yellow - with scope, blue with eye) Time in sky estimated: about 15 minutes more or less. Seen by eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. (* highest point above northern horizon 27-deg) August 17, 1960 2113 hours* sighted 75-deg above western horizon went on till 2117 Hours, when it was 10-deg north of Vega (in Lyra) and 10-deg west of Deneb (in Cygnus). At 2121 Hours it was 25-deg east of Polaris (in Ursa Minor). It disappeared in a cloud bank 5-deg above northeastern horizon (at 2124 Hours). (Seen for 120-deg of its trail) Highest magnitude +.1 or higher. Time estimated in sky: 15 minutes or more. Seen by eyes 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. (* blue with eyes - yellow with scope) August 17, 1960 2315 Hours: Appeared 3-deg north west of Arcturus (in Bootes) at about 5 to 7-deg above northern horizon. Went in clouds - came out again at 2322 when it went between Pherkad and Kochab (closer to Kochab 2-deg or less) in Ursa Minor. Continued east until it passed 1-deg or less north of Polaris in Ursa Minor at 2324, it continued until 10-deg east of Polaris, it disappeared in a heavy cloud bank of stratus clouds. (Seen for more than 40-deg of path.) Highest magnitude: +.1 or less Time estimated in sky: can not estimate because it went out of sight before its complete course was taken. Seen by eyes - 4x30 mm binoculars, 60 x reflector telescope. August 18, 1960 2047 Hours: Appeared 50-deg above the southwestern horizon continued north east, at 2052 Hours was 10-deg south of Alphecca, in Corona Borealis - 2054 Hours was 15-deg west of Vega in Lyra - at 2056 Hours it was 13-deg north of Vega in Lyra, and 15-deg west of Deneb, in Cygnus - at 2058 Hours it was located 40-deg east of Alkaid, in Ursa Major - at 2058 Hours it was also 15-deg north of Deneb, in Cygnus. It disappeared in a cloud bank at 2103 Hours at about 15-deg above the northeastern horizon. (Seen for more than 115 degrees of path through the sky) Highest magnitude: +.1 or more (was as bright as Vega) Time in sky (estimated): 15 minutes or probably more. Seen to be bluish with eyes - yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 18, 1960 2258 Hours: Appeared 29-deg above the northwestern horizon. Continued to east to pass 1-deg south of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2301 Hours - then at 2304 Hours it passed 1/2-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. Then at 2307 it disappeared in a cloud bank 15-deg above the northeastern horizon. (The whole sky had a haze to it so magnitude estimations are not exactly right) (Seen for 90-deg of path across the sky) Highest magnitude: +.1 or more Time in sky estimated; can not estimate because it went out of sight before it completed its course across the sky. Seen to be bluish with the eyes - it looked yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 19, 1960 2237 Hours: Was sighted 29-deg above the northwestern horizon continued to the east to pass 1/2-deg - 2238 Hours - south of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. Then hit clouds for a few minutes - then came out again until 2247 Hours when it disappeared in cloud bank 10-deg above the northeastern horizon. (The sky had large patches of clouds in it which made observation difficult) Seen for more than 90-deg of path across the sky) Highest magnitude: +.1 or more Time in sky estimated: (can not estimate because it was not seen for most of its course across the sky) Seen to be bluish with eyes - yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, - 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 21, 1960 1945 Hours: Sighted 15-deg south east of Arcturus, in Bootes, and 55-deg above the southwestern horizon. Continued northeast at 1950 it was 5-deg west of Vega, in Lyra At 1951 it was 10-deg north of Vega, in Lyra and at 1952 it was 8-deg west of Deneb, in Cygnus. At 1953 it was 15-deg north of Deneb, in Cygnus. It disappeared at 1957 in the cloud bank of a thunderstorm, 20-deg above the northeastern horizon. (Seen for 105-deg of path through the sky) Highest magnitude +0 (brighter than Vega at least) Time in sky estimated: about 15 minutes more or less. Seen to be white with the eyes and also in telescope. Seen with eyes 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. (it crossed the zenith, almost) August 22, 1960 1925 Hours: Was sighted overhead, moved north east to disappear in the thunderhead of a storm, it was 1935 Hours. It still too light to see where it went near the stars ectera. It was also quite cloudy. It's estimated magnitude was: more than +.0 (much brighter 8than Vega, in Lyra) Time estimated in sky: could not be estimated because it was not visible for its entire path across the sky. (Seen for not more than 50-deg of its path across the sky) Seen to be white in the telescope. Seen with 4x30 mm binocular, and 60 power reflector telescope. August 22, 1960 2128 Hours: Appeared 40-deg above the western horizon, continued to the northeast. at 2129 it was 6-deg south of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2130 it was 8-deg east of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2132 it was located 1-deg north of Kochab (in Ursa Minor) at 2134 it was 3-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Major. It disappeared in the clouds of a thunderstorm at 2135 Hours. 80-deg west of eastern horizon. (Seen for not more than 50-deg of trail through the sky) Highest magnitude: -0 or brighter (brighter than Vega, in Lyra) Time estimated in sky: could not be estimated because it was not seen for its full path. Seen to be blue with eyes, but appeared yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 23, 1960 2103 Hours: Was sighted 10-deg above the western horizon, continued northeasterly. At 2106 it was 16-deg north of Arcturus, in Bootes, then at 2108 it was 1-deg east of Alkaid, in Ursa Major, then at 2109 it was 7-deg west of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2110 it was 1-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2112 it was 4-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2113 it was located 12-deg east of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2115 it's position was 4-deg west pf Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia, then at 2116 it was 4-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. It went out of sight at the horizon, northeastern, at 2120. (Seen for 170-deg of its path through the sky.) Highest magnitude +.1 or brighter. Time estimated in sky: not more than 20 minutes. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with: eyes - 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 23, 1960 2310 Hours: Rose 10-deg above the west-north western horizon, and 4-deg south of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2314 it was 5-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2316 it was located 5-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2320 it was 10-deg north of star in Cassiopeia, which is to a right from Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. 2322 it was 3-deg west of Mirfak, in Perseus. 30 seconds later it was 3-deg north of Mirfak, in Perseus. At 2325 it disappeared 10-deg above the east north eastern horizon (in a cloud bank or the earth's shadow). Seen for not more than 160-deg of its path through the sky) Highest magnitude: varied from +3 to -0 much brighter than Vega, in Lyra, (very variable in a clear sky) Time estimated in sky: 15 minutes or less. or more. See to be blue with eyes, and it looked yellow or white in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, 60 power reflector telescope. August 24, 1960 2038 Hours: Was sighted 10-deg above the western horizon, and 15-deg north of Spica, in Virgo, at 2043 it was 8-deg south of Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici, at 2044 its position was 20-deg north of Arcturus, in Bootes. At 2045 it passed 1/2 deg east of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2046 it was 8-deg east of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2047 it was 1-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. AT 2049 it was 3-deg south of Yildum, in Ursa Minor. At 2049 (30 seconds later) it was 5-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2051 its position was 10-deg east of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. AT 2052 its position was 5-deg west of Gamma Cassiopeiae, in Cassiopeia. At 2054 it was 1/4-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. 1 second later it was 1/2-deg east of same. At 2059 it was 8-deg north of Schedar, in Cassiopeia. It went out of sight at 2058 behind a tree, in the northeastern horizon. (Seen for more than 160-deg of its path through the sky.) Highest magnitude: +.0 or higher, time estimated in sky: more than 15 minutes. Seen to be blue with the eyes - but yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes - 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 power reflector telescope. August 24, 1960 2247 Hours: Came into sight 5-deg above the northwestern horizon. At 2250 it passed 1/2-deg east of Alkaid, in Ursa Major and 1 second later at was 1-deg north of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2254 it was 6-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. It was located at 2255, 5-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2259 it was 15-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. At 2300 it was 20-deg north of Schedar, in Cassiopeia. 20 seconds later it was 2-deg south of Mirfak, in Perseus. At 2301 it's position was 4-deg east of Mirfak, in Perseus. At 2302 it was 3-deg north of Algol, in Perseus, at 2303 it went out of sight in the earth's shadow. (Seen for about 160-deg of its path across the sky) Highest magnitude: +.1 (or more) Time estimated in sky: about 16 minutes or more. Seen to be blue with eyes - yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 25, 1960 2018 Hours: Was sighted 10-deg above the western horizon, and 15-deg above Spica, in Virgo. At 2021 it was 8-deg south of Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici. At 2022 it was 18-deg north of Murphid, in Bootes. At 2023 it was located 10-deg east of Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici. At 2024 its position was 1-deg west of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2025 it was 10-deg east of Mizar, in Ursa Major. 30 seconds later it passed 1/2-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2027 it was 3-deg south of Yildun, in Ursa Minor. 5 seconds later it was 5-deg south of Polaris August 25, 1960 2225 Hours: Was seen first at 5-deg above the northwestern horizon. At 2226 it was 20-deg north of Arcturus, in Bootes. At 2228 it passed 1-deg south of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2229 its position was 10-deg east of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2231 it passed 2-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2232 it passed 4-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2235 it was 15-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. It went out of sight just above the northeastern horizon at 2239 Hours. (All of the time during its path through the sky its magnitude varied from +2 to +.1 this is caused by something I do not know) (Seen for 170-deg of its path through the sky) Highest magnitude: +.1 or more Time estimated in sky: about (possibly less than) 15 minutes or more. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x telescope (reflector type). August 26, 1960 1956 Hours: Sighted 20-deg above the western horizon. At 2002 it passed 3-deg west of Alkaid, in Ursa Major. At 2003 it passed 4-deg east of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2005 it passed 1/2-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2006 it was located 6-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2008 it was 15-deg east of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2009 it was 3-deg south of Gamma Cassiopeia, in Cassiopeia. at 2010 it past 3-deg east of Gamma Cassiopeia, in Cassiopeia. It disappeared at 2012, either in a cloud bank or the earth's shadow, 10-deg above the northeastern horizon. (seen for 150-deg of its path through the sky) Highest magnitude: +0 or less Time estimated in sky: more than 15 minutes. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 26, 1960 2204 Hours: Was spotted 5-deg above the northwestern horizon. It was located 20-deg north of Arcturus, in Bootes at 2206. At 2207 it was 3-deg north west of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 20 seconds hence, it was 3-deg from Mizar, in Ursa Major, and 3-deg from Alioth, in Ursa Major too. At 2208 it was 7-deg east of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2209 it passed 1-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2211 it was 10-deg north of Yildun, in Ursa Minor, and 15 seconds hence it was 5-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. It disappeared at 2219 in the earth's shadow, 10-deg above the northeastern Horizon (see for 175-deg of its path through the sky) Highest magnitude: +.0 or more (varied from +4 to +.0 in just seconds, many times!?) Time estimated in sky: more than 20 minutes. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow with the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 27, 1960 2142 Hours: Was spotted 5-deg above the northwestern horizon. At 2143 it passed 3-deg south of Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici. At 2144 it passed 1-deg south of Alioth, in Ursa Major. At 2147 it was located 8-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor, at 2149 it was 4-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2158 it was located 10-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. At 2157 it disappeared in the earth's shadow, 15-deg above the northeastern horizon. (seen for 150-deg of path or more) Highest magnitude +0 or higher. (varied from +4 to +0) Time estimated in sky: about 15 minutes or more. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflecting telescope. August 27, 1960 2346 Hours: Sighted 3-deg above the north western horizon. At 2350 it passed 1/8-deg south of Kochab, in Ursa Minor (it was very cloudy so the observations are not very lengthy or comprehensive) It disappeared at 2353, 5-deg southeast of Polaris, in Ursa Minor, either in a cloud bank of stratus, or the earth's shadow. (Seen for 90-deg if its path through the sky) Highest magnitude -0 or more (varied from +4 to -0) Time estimated in sky: less than 10 minutes of sighting visually. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 30, 1960 2033 Hours. Was sighted 10-deg above the northwestern horizon. At 2036 it passed 6-deg northwest of Alioth, in Ursa Major. At 2037 it either passed over or very close to Megrez, in Ursa Major. At 2038 it was 10-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2040 it was 4-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. It's position at 2044 was 3-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. It disappeared in a cloud bank at 2045, 15-deg above the northeastern horizon. (Seen for 150-deg of its path through the sky) High magnitude: -0 or more (varied from +3 to -0) Time estimated in sky: about 10 minutes or more. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 30, 1960 2240 Hours: Was seen rising 2-deg above the north western horizon. At 2242 it passed between Alkaid, and Mizar, in Ursa Major (4-deg from Alkaid and 3-deg from Mizar) At 2243 it was 5-deg southeast of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2245 it was 3-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2247 it passed 4-deg west of Polaris, in Ursa Minor, and 15 seconds later it was 1-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2250 it went out of sight in the earth's shadow, 5/8 the way of its trip through the sky. (Seen for about 100-deg or more its path through the sky.) Highest magnitude: +0 or more (varied from +2 to +0) time estimated in sky: not more than 10 minutes. Seen to be blue with eyes, yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 31, 1960 2013 Hours: Was sighted 5-deg above west-north-western horizon. At 2016 it passed 1-deg southeast of Phecda, in Ursa Major. 10 seconds later it passed 3-deg northwest of Megrez, in Ursa Major. 2018 it was located 12-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2020 it passed 4-deg north of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. At 2023 it passed 5-deg west of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia, twenty seconds later it was 2-deg north of Ruchbah, in Cassiopeia. At 2024 it was located 10-deg north of Schedar, in Cassiopeia. It disappeared 3-deg above the northeastern horizon. (Seen for about 170-deg of path or more) Highest magnitude: +.1 or higher (varied from +3 to +.1 in seconds, the lowest magnitude was +6 or lower) Time estimated in sky: 15 minutes or more Seen to be blue with eyes, and yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. August 31, 1960 2220 Hours: Was sighted 7-deg above the northwestern horizon. At 2221 it passed 1/2-deg northwest of Mizar, in Ursa Major, 5 seconds later it was 1/2-deg north of Mizar, in Ursa Major. At 2223 it was 5-deg north of Kochab, in Ursa Minor. At 2225 it was 3-deg north of Yildun, in Ursa Minor, 10 seconds later it was 1/4-deg south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. It disappeared in the earth's shadow at 2228, 20-deg east of Polaris, in Ursa Minor, and 17-deg above the northeastern horizon in Cassiopeia. (seen for 100-deg or more of its trip through the sky) Highest magnitude: -0 or higher (varied from +5 to -0 rapidly) Time estimated in the sky: less than 10 minutes. Seen to be blue with eyes, and yellow in the telescope. Seen with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. November 23, 1960 2015 Hours: Was sighted 10-deg above the western horizon. At a magnitude of +0.1 or lower, at 2017 it passed 5-deg west of Vega, in Lyra. At 2018 it was 5-deg north of Vega, in Lyra. At 2020 it was 80-deg or less west of Capella, in Auriga. At 2022 it was 45-deg north of Deneb, in Cygnus. at 2023 it passed 1.5-deg (or less) south of Polaris, in Ursa Minor. 10 seconds later it disappeared in the earth's shadow. (Seen for about 80-deg or more of it's trip across the sky.) Highest magnitude: -.1 (varied from +0.3 to -.1 in rapid swing) Time estimated in sky: in view about 8 minutes (in sky (but at times in shadow) 15 minutes or more.) Seen to be blue with eyes, but yellow in the telescope. See with eyes, 4x30 mm binoculars, and 60 x reflector telescope. July 25, 1961 (all times correct to within: + or - 7 seconds; -all times in: Hours, Central Standard Time.) (all degrees accurate to: + or - 25%) (all magnitudes accurate to + or - 20%) 2229 Hours: Was sighted 30-deg south of Arcturus, in Bootes; and 45-deg above the southwestern horizon. Magnitude estimated at: +.1 or more; At: 2231:30, (it) was located: 45-deg west: of Altair; in Aquila; at: 2232:25, (it) was located 20-deg southwest of: of: Vega; in Lyra; at: 2234:10, it was located: 1-1/2-deg west of: Vega; in Lyra; 5 seconds later it passed: 2-1/2-deg north of: same. At: 2235, it was positioned: 12-deg north-east of: Vega; in Lyra; at 2235:40, it passed: 6-deg west of: Deneb; in Cygnus;. At: 2236:30 it passed: 8-deg north of: Deneb; in Cygnus;. At: 2237:35, it passed (approximately): 60-deg north of: Jupiter; in: Saggitarius;. At: 2238.35, it passed: 30-deg northeast of: Deneb; in: Cygnus;. At: 2240:10, it passed: 55-deg east of; Polaris; in: Ursa Minor; and 30-deg above: the northeastern horizon. It disappeared at: 2245:30; at: about 4-deg above: the northeastern horizon, at: a magnitude of: approximately: +7 or less. (Seen for about 130-deg, or more of it's path through the sky.); Highest estimated magnitude: more than +.0.; time estimated in sky: more than 18 minutes. (Time seen in sky: more than 16 minutes. -) Seen to be: blue with eyes; and also in: telescope. Seen with: eyes, 4x30 millimeter binoculars; and 60 (x) power reflecting telescope. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- These observations and notes were as a 13/14 year old, with some of the wording "advanced" at times while "awkward" at others. Whatever original "raw notes" were used to compose these "final entries" likely no longer exist. Those are almost-slavish observations in August 1960 (often twice a night). They were helped along by the newspaper publishing the times, but also quickly learning for myself from this pattern that the orbits were coming about 2 hours apart, and about 20 minutes earlier each night. Any post-midnight orbits would have likely been very low in the nw, with the "larger" earth's shadow by then also truncating any visible transit time as well. Aug 12: 2100 --- Aug 15: 2200 Aug 16: 2147 2340 Aug 17: 2113 2315 Aug 18: 2047 2258 Aug 19: 2237 --- Aug 21: 1945 Aug 22: 1925 2128 Aug 23: 2103 2310 Aug 24: 2038 2247 Aug 25: 2018 2225 Aug 26: 1956 2204 Aug 27: 2142 2346 --- Aug 30: 2033 2240 Aug 31: 2013 2220 ---------------------------- In retrospect I was most surprised by two of my notations: (1) How early that I'd noted and appreciated the earth's shadow eclipsing it. (2) How soon those wide-magnitude variations had shown up (due to the balloon being made asymmetric by damage from meteoritic impacts). I had thought that it wasn't so manifest for over a year or so after its August 1960 launch! The color ambiguity (blue by eye vs yellow in scope) was never fully explained. The 3" f/10 reflector wasn't that bad with chromatic color! Maybe it was a contrast phenomena of the (then slightly) light polluted urban San Antonio sky. The very low horizon-spotting elevations clearly show that an excellent vantage was available, and that light pollution at some azimuths was VERY negligible - downtown being essentially east to ese at six miles. The horizon views from the w to nw were the darkest from that site - inspite of the cursed streetlight almost due west at a 30-deg or more elevation. The next streetlight on the 200-block of Lark was 1/4 mile east, at the Lark-Hillcrest intersection! There were others along the west side of Maiden Lane, where the offset streets intersected with it. (Car headlights coming from the west, shining directly into the backyard, were a definite, though transient, problem at times.) The July 1961 reference to a mag +7 would have had to have been using the 4x30 mm binoculars. The "seen path through the sky" angular estimates look to have been based on taking "180-deg" for its "total" path (if thru the Zenith or not) and NOT a true total of the actual degrees that it traversed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Echo I was seen many times later in the 1960's, often when just glancing up at night and noticing that "something was out of place" in the sky. Echo II joined it by mid decade, and on a few occasions both of them were seen in the sky at the same time! The actual demise (re-entry) dates for these "classics" is not known. Other (smaller) satellites were sometimes seen later in the 1960's. Though the 1990's has brought the nearly-as-bright Shuttle/Mir passes into my view several times, those rapidly-traversing objects still lack the more-leisurely contemplation that the slowly-gliding Echoes often permitted an observer to have and savor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------