ajs@hpfcla.UUCP (ajs) (12/01/84)
Today's paper carries an AP article titled "Scientists to study man-made comet on Christmas". A West German satellite 70,000 miles over the equatorial Pacific will dump a ball of barium early Christmas morning, to study the solar wind. Researchers say it will appear as a dot about as bright as Polaris, and expand rapidly to a red-yellow ball 1/6 the size of the moon. The artificial comet will be visible west of a line from Chicago to southern Texas, before sunrise. Unfortunately, the article does not say exactly when or where to look. Does anyone know the exact time, and the coordinates over which the action will start? If so, please post your answer. Thanks! Alan Silverstein, Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Systems Division, Colorado {ihnp4 | hplabs}!hpfcla!ajs, 303-226-3800 x3053, N 40 31'31" W 105 00'43"