A satellite of a new unknown series was launched on 29 February, and is GEO since a few days at about 33.7°E.
If it is a HTS as suggested, then probably could have many Ka-band spotbeams. But over Europe, or Africa?
Full name is Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui 01...
How did no-one think of this before!
It makes total sense this could have been a test with the old HotBird 13E at 12.8°E.
Indeed the (now empty) transponders peak about 0.2° to the West for me, compared with 12597V and 12692H from 13.0°E.
HotBird 13E also has just one wide beam, during the test...
Actually your first thought is correct, but it requires patience: 53 years! From Wiki:
"A combination of lunar gravity, solar gravity, and the flattening of the Earth at its poles causes a precession motion of the orbital plane of any geostationary object, with an orbital period of about 53...
The main payload of this USSF-67 launch was USA-342 a.k.a. CBAS-2 (Continuous Broadcast Augmenting Satcom).
USSF press release: https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/3/USSF-67 Post Launch Release (SAF PA Changes).pdf
This satellite was tested at 130.5°W, then spent several months at 121.9°W and...
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