Rotation Period

24 Jul 2020 = 30.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
25 Jul 2020 = 33.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
26 Jul 2020 = 40.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
27 Jul 2020 = 37.3 seconds (from Sun Sensor data)
28 Jul 2020 = 85.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
29 Jul 2020 = 125.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
30 Jul 2020 = 392.0 seconds (from WOD data and Sun Sensor data)

AO-73 has been observed this week intermittently switching spin direction during some passes over VK.
AO-73 is now starting to experience reduced eclipse periods (currently 13+ minutes per pass) and is expected to be in full sun by August 10th.
73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

17 Jul 2020 = 18.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
18 Jul 2020 = 19.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
19 Jul 2020 = 19.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
20 Jul 2020 = 18.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
21 Jul 2020 = 20.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
22 Jul 2020 = 20.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
23 Jul 2020 = 25.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 reverted to its normal spin direction with a very high level of Nutation on or about the 20th/21st July.
AO-73 is now starting to experience reduced eclipse periods (currently 16+ minutes per pass) and is expected to be in full sun by August 10th.
73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

10 Jul 2020 = 21.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
11 Jul 2020 = 21.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
12 Jul 2020 = 20.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
13 Jul 2020 = 21.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
14 Jul 2020 = 20.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
15 Jul 2020 = 19.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
16 Jul 2020 = 18.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 continues to rotate in the reverse of its normal spin direction with a high level of Nutation.
AO-73 is now starting to experience reduced eclipse periods (currently 18 minutes per pass) and is expected to be in full sun by August 10th.
73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

03 Jul 2020 = 25.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
04 Jul 2020 = 24.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
05 Jul 2020 = 23.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
06 Jul 2020 = 23.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
07 Jul 2020 = 23.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
08 Jul 2020 = 22.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
09 Jul 2020 = 22.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 continues to rotate in the reverse of its normal spin direction with a high level of Nutation.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

26 Jun 2020 = 31.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
27 Jun 2020 = 29.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
28 Jun 2020 = 29.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
29 Jun 2020 = 28.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
30 Jun 2020 = 27.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
01 Jul 2020 = 26.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
02 Jul 2020 = 25.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 continues to rotate in the reverse of its normal spin direction with a high level of Nutation.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

19 Jun 2020 = 24.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
20 Jun 2020 = 26.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
21 Jun 2020 = 29.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
22 Jun 2020 = 29.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
23 Jun 2020 = 29.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
24 Jun 2020 = 32.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
25 Jun 2020 = 31.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 continues to rotate in the reverse of its normal spin direction with a high level of Nutation.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

12 Jun 2020 = 17.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
13 Jun 2020 = 20.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
14 Jun 2020 = 21.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
15 Jun 2020 = 22.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
16 Jun 2020 = 22.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
17 Jun 2020 = 23.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
18 Jun 2020 = 24.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 was noted on the 14th June to have reversed its spin direction.
On all the early morning passes over VK AO-73 exhibit reverse spin.
On a random audit of the evening passes over VK, AO-73 has been observed doing what is known as The Dzhanibekov Effect ( changing rotation direction during the pass).
It is interesting to note that the evening passes over VK have just come out of eclipse prior to AOS, whereas the morning passes are now entering eclipse mid pass.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

05 Jun 2020 = 20.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
06 Jun 2020 = 20.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
07 Jun 2020 = 19.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
08 Jun 2020 = 18.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
09 Jun 2020 = 17.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
10 Jun 2020 = 17.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
11 Jun 2020 = 16.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 continues to maintain its tumbling phase due to its non-central Moment of Inertia.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

29 May 2020 = 20.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
30 May 2020 = 20.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
31 May 2020 = 20.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
01 Jun 2020 = 20.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
02 Jun 2020 = 21.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
03 Jun 2020 = 21.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
04 Jun 2020 = 21.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

This week AO-73 has commenced its complex tumbling phase due to its non-central Moment of Inertia.

73 de Colin VK5HI.