Topband: 3B9C to KA6W

[Earl W Cunningham]

Milt, N5IA wrote:

"According to my calculator in Geoclock, the distance between Rodrigues
and my QTH is 11, 418 miles (18,375 Km) on the short path (29
degrees)...."
==========
My calculations (using DBG which is based on the Earth's actual shape and
size) for KA6W, K6SE and 3B9C for 25 March 2004 are:

Sun times:

3B9C: (19.7S, 63.4E) sunset at 1353Z

KA6W (37.528N, 122.116W) sunrise at 1403Z

K6SE (34.629N, 118.179W) sunrise at 1349Z

N5IA (32.689N, 109.001W) sunrise at 1312Z

Short path headings and distances:

KA6W to 3B9C = 344 deg, 17982 km.

K6SE to 3B9C = 354 deg, 18342 km.

N5IA to 3B9C = 29 deg, 18384 km.

Although KA6W is only 297 miles NNW of me, his sunrise was 14 minutes
later than mine, rising 9 minutes after Rodrigues sunset (giving a
9-minute window of opportunity).

My sun rose 4 minutes before 3B9C's sunset (zero window of opportunity)

N5IA's sunrise was 51 minutes before 3B9C's sunset (a virtual
impossibility), so Milt's best chance would have to be at his sunset
(probably long path) rather than sunrise.

I heard KA6W's QSO with 3B9C (I did not hear 3B9C) and extend my
congratulations to him.

I'm still there every morning with eagerness, but the zero window gets
wider each day.

73, de Earl, K6SE