Observations 12 Apr 2005:
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Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
MINTRON low light level CCD surveillance camera (0.005 lux typical
in non integration mode) and 0.00005 lux in STARLIGHT mode with 128
frame integration.
Usual 145 mm lens and 2.56 second exposures.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
91023 05 097HEO 0433 G 20050407191043500 56 15 1112219+165002 39
91023 05 097HEO 0433 G 20050412191848800 56 15 0723408+123001 39 +090 05
91023 05 097HEO 0433 G 20050412192934500 56 15 0735008+122632 39 +090 05
91023 05 097HEO 0433 G 20050412204335100 56 15 0854265+112902 39 +090 05
91023 05 097HEO 0433 G 20050412204426000 56 15 0855187+112759 39 +090 05
91023 05 097HEO 0433 G 20050412205601800 56 15 0908016+111444 39 +090 05
COSMOS 1738
16667 86 027A 0433 G 20050412193420300 56 15 0819460+182729 39 +090 05
16667 86 027A 0433 G 20050412204759200 56 15 0935026+171327 39 +105 05
COSMOS 1888
18384 87 084A 0433 G 20050412204759200 56 15 0929146+162441 39 +129 05
ARIANE 44 LP R/B observed at range 26960 kilometres
26490 00 046D 0433 G 20050412174225900 56 15 0910346+064803 39 +095 05
SL-12 R/B(2)
28119 03 053E 0433 G 20050412211254000 56 15 1233198+070654 39 +105 05
Notes:
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(1) Many thanks to Mike McCants for producing an orbit for unknown 91023.
Using this I was able to find another image that I had missed on the
7th April so this gives a slightly larger observed arc.(Reported above)
(2) The main purpose of the evenings observations was to try and find
91023 - I could not try earlier because of bad weather. Realising that
the satellite would probably not be where predicted (due to the
small arc on which the elements were based and also that the elements
were now 5 days old), I did a large box search of the expected area and
scanned an area from azimuth 315 to 350 and elevation 26 to 33 degrees,
using 1.5 degree increments, staying on each position for 30 seconds
before moving to the next.The box was scanned three times from 1752UT
till about 21h10m UT.
(3) I did not find any unknown close to the predicted position but found
a new geostationary satellite. However I had scanned this area about
two weeks ago and would not have missed a geostationary so bright so
I think that there is a very good possibility that this is what I
was looking for. The predictions indicated that #91923 would be near
apogee so this fits. Initially I was looking for something fainter
since on the discovery date the satellite was variable and somewhat
fainter but then remembered that on the discovery date the satellite
was coming down from apogee and the range was a lot less, with the
result that the discovery images showed a trailed satellite. With the
satellite at apogee the satellite would not noticeably trail so all
the light from the satellite was being integrated into a single point
instead of being spread out along the track. The satellite was about 30
degrees out in azimuth from the approximate predicted position but
elevation was okay.
(4) Hopefully Mike will confirm this object is in fact #91023. If not
then its a new unknown geostationary.
(5) The other objects reported were found whilst hunting. I have not yet
measured the LEO satellites seen nor an interesting bright medium
altitude satellite. I recorded about 7 hours of observations to DVD
and so far have only gone through about three hours which took me about
six hours today - I hope to do the remaining 4 hours tomorrow.
Cheers
Greg
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