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Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!mcsun!unido!rwthinf!dieter
From: dieter@rwthinf.UUCP (Dieter Kreuer)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space.shuttle,sci.space
Subject: Re: ESA-brief summary of activity
Summary: orbital elements for Giotto requested
Keywords: ESA,USSR,Giotto,Hipparcos
Message-ID: <3015@rwthinf.UUCP>
Date: 26 Jun 90 08:00:07 GMT
References: <1990Jun25.175946.20917@cc.ic.ac.uk>
Followup-To: sci.astro
Organization: RBI - RWTH Aachen
Lines: 28

In article <1990Jun25.175946.20917@cc.ic.ac.uk>, zmapj36@sund.cc.ic.ac.uk (M.S.Bennett  Supvs= Prof Pendry) writes:

>                                      ******
> 
>                                Giotto Reactivated
>                                ==================
>  
> 
> On 2 July 1990 Giotto will pass within 23000 km of Earth, and the  Earth's
> gravitational field will be  used  as  a  'slingshot'  force  to  propel  the
> spacecraft on towards its new target.
> 

A friend of mine uses to watch geostationary satellites with a C8 and has 
written a program for determining equatorial coordinates when geocentric
elements for the satellite are provided. He uses stars as a guide to direct
the scope to the desired position and switches off the drive when the
satellite crosses the field of view.
Is the Giotto probe also visible with an 8 inch as it passes Earth, though
it has no large solar panels? How fast will it move (angular velocity)?
Can anybody provide geocentric elements or even a table of guide stars
for 50.8 deg N, 6.5 deg E (if the event does not take place by daylight)?
URGENTLY, this net can be quite slow sometimes!

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     Dieter Kreuer, Lehrstuhl Informatik IV, RWTH Aachen, Ahornstr. 55,
    D-5100 Aachen; dieter@informatik.rwth-aachen.de; dieter@rwthinf.uucp
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