NavList:

Hi

According to the Almanac for 2007, full moon was on or about Sunday 25th with mer.pass. 0007 UT, declination N27.56. The SD is listed as 16.7.  

The aircraft are an F22 raptor, based at Elmerdorf- Richardson or Eielson AFB, because of the AK on her tailplane.  Length18.9m and entered service in early 2007 at Elmerdorf AFB, according to the Red Week newletter for that year at the base and a Russian (by the star on her tail) Tupolov Tu 95 (Bear), length 46.2, entered service in 1957 and still in active service (Ukraine!)

To get distance from observer, I have used the small angle formula of D = S/rad, where, D is the distance off, S is the size of the object and rad in the angular size in radians

For the F22, I measured the length on my screen as 110mm and the moon as 8mm, so 13.75 moons along the fuselage.  With SD 16'5 minutes, then arc length of fuselage is 13.75 x 33 = 453 arcminutes. Converting to radians, arc of F22 is 453 x 0.000291 = 0.131772 rad

Applying formula, distance from observer to F22 is 18.9m/0.131772rad = 138 metres

For the Tu 95, I measured 175mm on the screen, so ratio to moon of 21.8, thus arc of fuselage  21.8 x 33 =721 arcminutes = 0.20973rad

Distance off from observer =46.2m/0.20973rad =220.2 metres

I somehow feel that my figures are wrong as these suggest that are these planes really flying at 400kts at 30000ft at less than 100m apart?, but then I suppose they also do carry out mid-air refuelling at zero range!! I did check with my Norries vertical sextant heights, so I don't think too much out, but Norries don't go to such small scale

I look forward to hearing for any advice

Cheers

Ross