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
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