U.S. BALLOON SATELLITE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 15

U.S. BALLOON SATELLITE

Appearances At

Week-End Christchurch people will have six- opportunities' of seeing the American balloon satellite. Echo I, during the weekend, and Monday night, according to a lecturer in physics at the University of Canterbury (Mr C. S. L. Keay). • ' Several-persons telephoned him about the sightings last night, said Mr Keay. The satellite’s path across the sky coincided with a brilliant display of the Aurora Australis, the bright white shafts of light which attracted shoppers and were visible.for about 15 minutes. Reports of the sighting of the aurora were received from Ashburton. The balloon satellite should be seen again today rising in the north-west sky about 8.20 p.m. It should pass almost directly overhead about 8.33 p.m. and should set after about 10 minutes. Later the satellite, rising in the west, about 10.25 p.m.. should pass high in the southern sky at 10.39 p.m. Shortly after this sighting it would be seen to enter the earth’s orbit, said Mr Keay.

Tomorrow, it will rise in the north-west about 7.55 p.m. and will pass very high in the northern sky at 8.09 p.m.. setting in the south-east about 10 minutes later.

The satellite will make a second appearance from the west shortly after 10 pjm. It will be seen high in the southern sky at 10.14 p.m., disappearing into the earth’s shadow again to the east several minutes later. On Monday it will rise in the north-west sky shortly after 7.30 p.m.. with a high overhead pass at 7.44 p.m.. and will disappear later in the» south-east. In a second appearance Echo I will rise in the west shortly after 9.35 p.m.. travel due south, and disappear to the east about 10 p.m.