Observations 20 Dec 2005:
--------------------------------
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 128 frames
which is equivalent to an exposure of 2.56 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
90035 05 625A 0433 P 20051220184705400 56 15 0505285+051818 39
90035 05 625A 0433 P 20051220192402400 56 15 0542287+051808 39
90013 03 564A 0433 P 20051220190303100 56 15 0410250+112943 39 +085 05
91049 05 835A 0433 P 20051220191952000 56 15 0021341+060405 39 +105 05
90005 99 804A 0433 P 20051220192553500 56 15 0510564+130442 39 +095 05
90005 99 804A 0433 P 20051220212204800 56 15 0656565+134920 39 +090 05
90042 05 828A 0433 P 20051220194412800 56 15 0549387+050838 39 +095 05
90033 05 558A 0433 P 20051220193010500 56 15 0155409+035023 39 +110 05
90033 05 558A 0433 P 20051220200720600 56 15 0232566+040908 39 +105 05
90033 05 558A 0433 P 20051220201732200 56 15 0243096+041316 39 +105 05
28096 03 054B 0433 P 20051220200723700 56 15 0234367+035444 39 +025 05
27168 02 001A 0433 P 20051220202053800 56 15 0226202+071135 39 +085 05
90031 05 546A 0433 P 20051220202912500 56 15 0728191+055658 39 +100 05
27699 03 009B 0433 P 20051220212837200 56 15 1439311-670737 39 +040 05
27699 03 009B 0433 P 20051220212910800 56 15 1412208-712229 39 +038 05
27699 03 009B 0433 P 20051220212917800 56 15 1403570-722150 39 +035 05
Strays:
-------
Intelsat 904
27380 02 007A 0433 P 20051220184705400 56 15 0505598+051441 39
27380 02 007A 0433 P 20051220192402400 56 15 0543010+051539 39
Cosmos 1656
15755 85 042A 0433 P 20051220185444500 56 15 0124502+145146 39 +035 05
SL-8 R/B
11736 80 022B 0433 P 20051220185631200 56 15 0129175+144437 39 +048 05
SL-8 R/B
24306 96 052C 0433 P 20051220191528700 56 15 0141371+162045 39 +045 05
Express AM-22
28134 03 060A 0433 P 20051220193325300 56 15 0521036+051914 39 +090 05
Cosmos 1315
12903 81 103A 0433 P 20051220193315800 56 15 0524345+043952 39 +040 05
Globalstar M059
25944 99 058B 0433 P 20051220193357500 56 15 0519023+051544 39 +040 05
Cosmos 1168
11735 80 022A 0433 P 20051220193448600 56 15 0527019+051722 39 +075 05
Intelsat 702
23124 94 034A 0433 P 20051220193612200 56 15 0532063+051944 39 +095 05
Insat 3E
27951 03 043E 0433 P 20051220193612200 56 15 0532516+051938 39 +090 05
Cosmos 2131
21106 91 009G 0433 P 20051220193722500 56 15 0532119+051816 39 +080 05
Cosmos 2247
22648 93 030C 0433 P 20051220193739100 56 15 0538468+041233 39 +075 05
NSS703
23305 94 064A 0433 P 20051220194412800 56 15 0549419+052004 39 +090 05
Orbcom FM18
25418 98 046F 0433 P 20051220200708700 56 15 0233486+040700 39 +080 05
Eutelsat W5
27554 02 051A 0433 P 20051220202912500 56 15 0733177+051523 39 +115 05
Atlas Centaur rocket range 35800 km, regular flasher,period ~22.5 sec
09329 76 073B 0433 P 20051220210858600 56 15 0723533+052824 39 +090 05
Atlas Centaur rocket range 7000 kms
15874 85 055B 0433 P 20051220212107500 56 15 0726163+045236 39 +070 05
Ariane 5 R/B range 18450 kms
26865 01 029C 0433 P 20051220212330600 56 15 0656281+143638 39 +085 05
CAT 4 range 14900 kms
13011 81 122B 0433 P 20051220214559700 56 15 0424111+210434 39 +085 05
Noaa 11 variable
19531 88 089A 0433 P 20051220220923800 56 15 0941221-522005 39 +040 05
Notes:
-------
(1) About 50% cirrus cover making things a little difficult.
(2) Seem to have lost Kevins #90041 - despite trying several times
during the session I could find no sign of it - unusual as I rate
it easy.
(3) Have made some more changes to my system - now have GUIDE running
in real time and whenever I spot something interesting I merely
punch in the azimuth and elevation and can immediately see what
is in my field of view from a database of about 9000 objects.
Hopefully I will now be able to recognize an unknown almost
immediately and follow it as long as I am able. It does cause
a small problem in that I have only one set of eyes and now have
to watch 5 screens when tracking and operate three keyboards!
(Ever typed on the wrong keyboard and wondered why nothing
happened?)
GUIDE is by far the best program for this sort of operation - Ive
tried them all ( I think!) and more expensive programs fail
dismally! If you are serious about optical/video tracking/positional
work then buy yourself a copy - its under $100 and worth every cent.
Visit http://www.projectpluto.com for more details. Unfortunately
there is no demo version available - but as myself and others have
found it delivers the goods. I get no commission for this - just a
very satsified user since version 2 - its now at version 8 and
comes on two CD's.
(4) This concludes this session.
(5) Since I may not track again this week I would like to wish all
readers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year for 2006.
Let us all hope that we will live in a better safer world and enjoy
good health and clear skies.
Cheers
Greg
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