SATOBS ML (4353), 22 Apr 2012 (Pt. II): a UNID

From: Marco Langbroek (marco.langbroek@wanadoo.nl)
Date: Mon Apr 23 2012 - 15:42:18 UTC

  • Next message: Marco Langbroek: "COR: SATOBS ML (4353),22 Apr 2012: IGS-1B, USA 129"

    Hi all,
    
    I encountered a faint fast UNID on one of my yesterday evening images. It does 
    not match any public object or known classified object for as far as I can tell.
    
    Using Scott Campbell's software and fitting a circular orbit, I find these 
    (very) approximate elements suggesting a 57 degree inclination *under the 
    assumption of a prograde orbit*:
    
    00000 00 000X   4353 F 20120422205202300 17 75 0854094+251250 56
    00000 00 000X   4353 F 20120422205212350 17 75 0933456+223140 56
    
    1 00000U 00000X   12113.86958738 0.00000073  00000-0  50000-4 0    04
    2 00000  56.8308  38.6332 0006388 220.4327 252.6664 15.71179092    05
    
    *under the assumption of a retrograde orbit* (note the slight RA difference in 
    the positions below, due to the 10-second switch between start and end positions 
    and start and end time):
    
    00000 00 000X   4353 F 20120422205202300 17 75 0933355+223140 56
    00000 00 000X   4353 F 20120422205212350 17 75 0854204+251250 56
    
    ...the object yields approximate elements with an inclination of 122 degrees, 
    very similar to the FIA objects (but with a notably larger MM):
    
    1 00000U 00000X   12113.86958738 0.00000073  00000-0  50000-4 0    04
    2 00000 122.3084 215.8496 0006564 320.9221 105.1718 15.62133060    07
    
    As I did not observe the object visually (too faint) and it only shows up as a 
    faint trail on an image, I do not know which of the trails ends is the start and 
    which is the end.
    
    Probably, the prograde orbit (with an inclination comparable to a.o. the 
    Lacrosses) is the most likely version.
    
    Clouded out here so no chance to try a recovery tonight.
    
    - Marco
    
    
    -----
    Dr Marco Langbroek  -  SatTrackCam Leiden, the Netherlands.
    e-mail: sattrackcam@wanadoo.nl
    
    Cospar 4353 (Leiden):   52.15412 N, 4.49081 E (WGS84), +0 m ASL
    Cospar 4354 (De Wilck): 52.11685 N, 4.56016 E (WGS84), -2 m ASL
    SatTrackCam: http://home.wanadoo.nl/marco.langbroek/satcam.html
    Station (b)log: http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com
    Twitter: @Marco_Langbroek
    -----
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