Observations 29 Aug 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. Due to bright sky it is not worthwhile integrating
more than 48 frames which is equivalent to an exposure of 0.96 seconds.
Used with 145mm focal length f/2.5 lens giving a field of view of
about 2.55 x 1.86 degrees.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
23862 96 029D 0433 P 20050829165657100 17 15 1519392-474127 39
23908 96 029C 0433 P 20050829165657100 17 15 1514208-475244 39
23936 96 029E 0433 P 20050829170115800 17 15 1822573+215303 39
25725 99 023B 0433 P 20050829170353500 17 15 1717405-062947 39
25725 99 023B 0433 P 20050829170500200 17 15 1752071-051529 39
25725 99 023B 0433 P 20050829170715800 17 15 1848447-023321 39
24903 97 043A 0433 P 20050829170420200 17 15 1738312-055608 39
90013 03 564A 0433 P 20050829170902600 17 15 1851539-023210 39
28646 05 016A 0433 P 20050829171325600 17 15 1223249-064437 39
28646 05 016A 0433 P 20050829171430700 17 15 1223066-220417 39
28646 05 016A 0433 P 20050829171507900 17 15 1220299-331002 39
Unknown:
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91040 05 241LEO 0433 P 20050829171912300 17 15 1136599-285041 39
91040 05 241LEO 0433 P 20050829171913500 17 15 1137382-283451 39
Notes:
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(1) After a long spell of continual cloud I was desperate to observe-
however as the afternoon drew on cirrus started to come over and
at sunset conditions were very poor so I was not able to observe
for very long.
(2) A faint satellite was briefly observed for which I cannot find a
match in my elements database. It was impossible to get more than
two fixes and in fact only the first one is real positive as the
object brightened enough to be able to measure with certainty.
The second observation was measured as it faded to invisibility
so as to give a rough idea of inclination, height and direction
of travel. A rough calculation indicates a period of around 101
minutes at an inclination of about 98 degrees and altitude
approximately 800 kms with RA Node about 234 degrees. I attempted
to follow the satellite for about a minute but due to thick
cirrus and local obstructions it was not seen again with certainty.
Magnitude difficult to estimate due to cirrus - perhaps mag 10.
(3) Next tracking session ? - no idea - raining at the moment!
Cheers
Greg
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