Observations 17 Aug 2006 -part 1

From: Greg Roberts (grr@iafrica.com)
Date: Fri Aug 18 2006 - 12:25:41 EDT

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    Observations 17 Aug 2006:(Part 1)
    ---------------------------------------
    
    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.
    
    Used with 145mm focal length f/2.5 lens,integrating for 96 frames
    which is equivalent to an exposure of 1.92 seconds per image.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
    
    
    For CLASSIFIED.TLE:
    ----------------------------
    
    29249 06 027A   0433 G 20060817164803300 56 15 1456474-001239 39  +065 05
    29249 06 027A   0433 G 20060817165136900 56 15 1539487-194505 39  +060 05
    29249 06 027A   0433 G 20060817165403200 56 15 1645192-404510 39  +055 05
    29249 06 027A   0433 G 20060817165716900 56 15 2036359-613221 39  +065 05
    29249 06 027A   0433 G 20060817170022800 56 15 2353223-522727 39  +075 05
    27712 03 012B   0433 G 20060817175433900 56 15 2028407+041541 39  +090 05
    90016 03 012B   0433 G 20060817181409100 56 15 1627434-004001 39  +101 05
    90042 05 828A   0433 G 20060817181631200 56 15 2007177+034834 39  +110 05
    90042 05 828A   0433 G 20060817181807400 56 15 2008538+034647 39  +110 05
    
    
    
    New unknowns ?
    ------------------
    
    91076 06 229GEO 0433 G 20060817175746600 56 15 2031573+041614 39  +095 05
    91077 06 229LEO 0433 G 20060817180239100 56 15 1716247+012416 39
    91077 06 229LEO 0433 G 20060817180248500 56 15 1717249+020424 39
    91077 06 229LEO 0433 G 20060817180256000 56 15 1718115+023424 39
    91077 06 229LEO 0433 G 20060817180303500 56 15 1718586+030458 39
    91078 06 229MEO 0433 G 20060817180558900 56 15 1724095+013716 39  +100 05
    91078 06 229MEO 0433 G 20060817180619100 56 15 1724319+013621 39  +100 05
    91078 06 229MEO 0433 G 20060817180645300 56 15 1724565+013508 39  +100 05
    91079 06 229MEO 0433 G 20060817181551600 56 15 2007079+035217 39  +100 05
    91079 06 229MEO 0433 G 20060817181631200 56 15 2007443+034926 39  +100 05
    91079 06 229MEO 0433 G 20060817181807400 56 15 2009189+033955 39  +100 05
    
    Notes:
    -------
    
    (1) Had a 3 hour long tracking session before cloud wiped me out.
        Due to several visitors today I have not completed measuring so
        hope to measure the rest tomorrow as well as report identified
        "strays".
    
    (2) I seem to have found an unusual number of new ones but my database
        is the latest available so ?
    
    #91076  - bit puzzled about this one as quite bright. It could be a
    bright "dead" pixel but does not appear on other images taken tonight
    at the pixel location (561,303).I will re examine the image tomorrow
    - it could also possibly be a cosmic ray strike but I did not seen any
    in real time whilst observing this area. At the moment I am not totally
    convinced its a real new geostationary - no sign of an obvious trail
    so inclination small.
    
    #91077 - nice pretty object varying from about mag 7.5 to about mag +11
    in space of a few seconds. Only able to get positions as it crossed the
    field of view.
    
    #91078 - short trail at extreme edge of field -tried to get three
    positions by using shorter integrations when summing images. Steady
    
    #91079 - could see it easily on monitor and at time of observation
    thought it was #90042 but on integrating the images for about 300
    frames found a second object closer to predicted track of #90042
    with this object passing close to it and leaving an obvious trail.
    Although it resembled #91078 the change in declination for each does
    not seem to support this- both moving towards the celestial equator
    but #91078 closer and earlier than #91079. Steady
    
    Its cloudy and freezing ( okay only 13 deg C max today but thats
    cold for me!) at the moment - come to "sunny" South Africa and
    freeze (if you dont get mugged before hand!)
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
    
    
    
    
    
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