Hi Kurt, I don't know the answer but I'll bet the folks on the Minor Planet Mailing List (MPML) would know. Find the list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mpml While the primary focus there is minor planets it is not uncommon for spacecraft to be discussed as well. patrick On 16 Jan 2009, at 16:05, Canopus56 wrote:
I would like to make a rough mathematical estimate of the magnitude of a Centaur booster at various distances between 500 and 400,000 kilometers. The object is 12 meters long by 2.5 meters in diameter. The albedo is not known. A best guesstimate of the albedo will have to make? Can anyone provide a formula or reading references? Thanks, Kurt
P.S. - I have already collected empirical examples of detections at various distances.