[Launch Alert] Low Tech Astronomy

[Brian Webb]

                            LAUNCH ALERT

			           Brian Webb
		         Ventura County, California
		        E-mail: kd6nrp at earthlink.net
	         Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info

				           2004 November 22 (Monday) 06:01 PST
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                         LOW TECH ASTRONOMY

It's one of Earth's closest neighbors, but many people have never seen
it because it never ventures very far from the Sun. Elusive Mercury
attained its greatest angular separation from the Sun Saturday and is
now visible to the naked eye at dusk.

To catch a glimpse of this mysterious planet, observers in southern
California and surrounding areas should find a location with an
unobstructed horizon and look in the southwest about 25 minutes after
sunset. Mercury will look like a semi-bright "star" approximately 7
degrees above the horizon.

If you want to see the planet, don't delay - it will only be visible
for the next few evenings.

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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
		           As of 2004 November 22

                          Launch
                        Time/Window
      Date		       (PST/PDT)          Vehicle        Pad/Silo
-----------------     ---------------     ------------     --------

NOV?                  Mid-morning         Pegasus XL       Offshore
Payload is NASA's DART satellite

Late JAN-Early-FEB    10:00-13:00		Falcon I         SLC-3W
Payload is the Naval Research Laboratory's TacSat-1 satellite. The
launch window is fixed and does not change if the launch date changes.

FEB		          To be announced     Minuteman III    ---
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads (probably Mk-12). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at
Kwajalein in the central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the
date and launch window about 36-hours in advance. Glory Trip 187GM

FEB 12		    ~02:00              Delta II         SLC-2W
Payload is the NOAA N environmental satellite. Launch time is based on
informed speculation

MAR 1                 To be announced     Delta IV         SLC-6
Classified National Reconaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the launch time about 24-hours in advance. NROL-22

APR                   To be announced     Minuteman III    ---
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads (probably Mk-12). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at
Kwajalein in the central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the date
and launch window about 36-hours in advance. Glory Trip 188GB

MAY                   To be announced     Peacekeeper      ---
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads (probably Mk-12). Impact area is in the Reagan Test Site at
Kwajalein in the central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the date
and launch window about 36-hours in advance. Glory Trip 34-PA

MAY 26                ~03:00?             Delta II         SLC-2W
Payload is the CloudSat and CALIPSO environmental satellites. Launch
time is based on informed speculation

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