Brightness variation of USA 276 (NROL-76)

click image to enlarge

Last night was very clear again. I observed two passes of the new USA 276 (2017-022A) satellite, also known under its NRO launch number NROL-76. It was launched early this month by SpaceX, and I wrote in detail about this mystery payload in my post from yesterday.

The image above, taken with a Canon EOS 60D and EF 2.0/35 mm lens, shows the satellite passing over the roof of my house during the first pass (00:36 local time, 22:36 UT). It was bright and an easy naked eye object at mag +2.5 near culmination.

During the second pass, 02:06 local time (00:06 UT) it was somewhat fainter, mag +3 to +3.5, but still visible naked eye. Below are two images from this pass:

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

During this second pass, I visually seemed to note some brightness variation, notably after culmination.

Analysis of the pixel brightness of the trails in my imagery seems to confirm this. They show an irregular brightness variation, notably in the third image (the last of the images above), that looks like it is a combination of several periods.

The diagrams below show the curve obtained from 4 images, and a detail curve of the third image where brightness variation seems most pronounced. Pixel values of the trails were measured with IRIS.

click diagram to enlarge

click diagram to enlarge

This variation could hint at some form of spin stabilization, or alternatively the presence of some rotating element perhaps.

I did not note this variation during earlier passes, so  it could perhaps strongly depend on the viewing angle.