Optical 29 Dec 2011

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Thu Dec 29 2011 - 23:08:42 UTC

  • Next message: Brad Young: "BY C 123011"

    Observations 29 Dec 2011
    ----------------------------
    
    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 82mm focal length f/2.8 lens,integrating for 128 fields
    Field of view 4.3 x 3.1 degrees.
    All images measured manually.
    
    Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude -33.94058 deg,
    Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa
    
    FOR CLASSFD.TLE:
    --------------------
    24680 96 072A   0433 F 20111229200829100 56 15 1121054-862130 39  +025 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 F 20111229200831700 56 15 1030201-864832 39  +025 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 F 20111229200834300 56 15 0924196-870341 39  +025 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 F 20111229200836800 56 15 0812298-870231 39  +025 05
    23851 96 024A   0433 F 20111229201038200 56 15 1141365-480651 39  +035 05
    23851 96 024A   0433 F 20111229201050400 56 15 1133426-474742 39  +035 05
    23851 96 024A   0433 F 20111229201100400 56 15 1126429-472932 39  +035 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20111229202538600 56 15 1215063-560233 39  +030 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20111229202531100 56 15 1212251-560219 39  +030 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20111229202533700 56 15 1209282-560149 39  +030 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20111229202536300 56 15 1206549-560122 39  +030 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20111229202539400 56 15 1203261-560129 39  +030 05
    
    WHAT IS THIS?
    99999 99 999Z   0433 F 20111229205605800 56 15 1541284-710535 39  +030 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 F 20111229205612200 56 15 1542533-715500 39  +030 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 F 20111229205617300 56 15 1544007-723802 39  +030 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 F 20111229205622400 56 15 1545281-732212 39  +030 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 F 20111229205627400 56 15 1547238-740848 39  +030 05
    
    NOTES:
    --------
        Did orbit plane scans for USA 129 (#24680) and USA 186 (#28888).
    
        Pretty confident I found USA 129 but I am puzzled about USA 186
        as I found TWO candidates.  I have called one USA 186 based on the
        fact that despite three attempts to see it in the past few days,
        going as much as 5 minutes either side of the predicted pass I saw
        nothing so I assumed it has moved.
    
        However the second object found during the USA 186 orbit plane
        search is within about 90 seconds of the predicted time for USA 186
        but if it is USA 186 why wasnt it seen despite looking 5 minutes
        either side earlier in the week and if this is USA 186 what is the
        one Ive now called USA 186?  Both have similar optical appearance
        and both have similar inclinations.  I dont think its a Japanese
        recon satellite as the orbit is too far west for this time of the
        night. Several Fengyun debrii were in the vicinity following similar
        track angles but I doubt if any are so bright and steady- in fact
        I did not see any of them.
    
        So Im puzzled but as its now long past my bedtime I will leave it
        to the experts :-))) Probably some simple explanation but I dont find
        anything suitable in my element database at the moment.
    
    Cheers
    Greg 
    
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