Optical 22 August 2008-part1

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Sat Aug 23 2008 - 14:59:59 UTC

  • Next message: Brad Young: "BY Classfd.tle Aug 23"

    Observations 22 August 2008:
    --------------------------------------
    
    Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
    Camera mount now carries two systems that can be operated
    together as two totally different sytems and computers used.
    Generally the DSI Pro II camera will be used for high altitude
    slow moving objects. Tests seem to indicate that its sesnitivity
    is comparable to the MINTRON ( possibly better) but as its not
    possible (?) to time stamp to better than 1 second accuracy the
    time resolution is not good enough for LEO objects.
    
    (1) 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 135mm focal length f/2.8 lens,integrating for 128 frames
    which is equivalent to a max exposure of 2.56 seconds maximum
    per image. Field of view 2.7 x 2.1 degrees.
    Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
    
    (2)Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera without filters.
    using integration times of 20 sec min to 60 seconds maximum
    depending on brightness of sky in particular area.No image
    processing done but dark field applied.
    Used with 200mm focal length f/2.8 Nikkon telephoto lens,
    field of view 1.88 x 1.40 degrees. Can get to magnitude 13
    or so in less than 20 seconds exposure.
    Exposure time to nearest second inserted into image FITS header
    from PC clock which is automatically checked every minute against
    GPS signal.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa
    
    
    For CLASSFD.TLE:
    ------------------------ 
    
    32378 07 060A   0433 T 20080822195558500 56 15 1554360+044617 39  +075 05
    32378 07 060A   0433 T 20080822195842300 56 15 1625581+112711 39  +080 05
    32378 07 060A   0433 T 20080822200301500 56 15 1701486+192008 39  +080 05
    32378 07 060A   0433 T 20080822200628500 56 15 1722453+240050 39  +085 05
    
    Unknown:
    ----------
    99991 08 731A   0433 T 20080822200619500 56 15 1716536+222149 39  +075 05
    99991 08 731A   0433 T 20080822200624900 56 15 1717587+222038 39  +075 05
    99991 08 731A   0433 T 20080822200628500 56 15 1718443+222056 39  +075 05
    99991 08 731A   0433 T 20080822200633900 56 15 1719568+221938 39  +075 05
    
    
    Notes:
    --------
    (1) Terrible observing conditions with thick bands of cirrus drifting
        over but it was essential for my health that I try and observe otherwise
        withdrawel symptoms will become too pronounced - have to make do the
        best we can with putrid weather conditions!
    
    (2) I dont find a match for the unknown reported above - by sheer luck it
        happened to cross the field whilst tracking #32378. There is some
        similarity with the unknown observed on 18th August so there is a chance
        it may be the same object ?
    
    (3) I have more satellites to report tomorrow - today was a bad day with
        a visit to the vet ( not because of my withdrawal symptoms!) and
        visitors in the afternoon.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
     
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive:  
    http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Aug 23 2008 - 15:01:25 UTC