[amsat-bb] The loss of Keith Pugh and a visual satellite experience - a Starlink Group observation

[Steven Bienvenu]

I met Keith Pugh in the late 80's, and was aware that he was party to the
awesome Russian spacecraft exhibit I visited -In Ft. Worth, I think.  He was
a quality guy.

I took my wife out tonight to try to spot the Starlink Satellites tonight.
On the way to a poor local Viewing spot here in the city, we realized it was
now overcast, and
after arriving, we discovered we Could see only a single star in a small
hole in the hazy clouds at about 69 degrees, the max elevation and about
Right azimuth in the sky. 
Sure enough, we got a show, but completely different from the videos shown
In various places on the net, including Spaceweather.com.  Thanks to
N2YO.com for the predix.

We saw 9 very bright sats fly out of the deeper cloudiness and suddenly
appear in the "hole" near the star, one after another, moving fast.
Most were spaced 6 or so seconds apart, the latter ones much more, but all
Very bright, at least first mag or more, And shining through a thin 
haze before they met the thicker edge of the hole on the other side and
disappearing just as suddenly.  They traversed the hole in perhaps
1.5 seconds or so, no more than two.

I wondered if THESE in the group were flaring, and therefore so much
brighter.   It also appeared that a few
Of them were not in the same trajectory , but very close to it.  I'd read
that engines were being fired to raise their Orbits now.

Keith would have enjoyed seeing them.  Fair winds...

My condolences to his family; I know they will miss him.

73,

Steven Bienvenu   W5ZA

Shreveport, La.