Optical 30 Dec 2011 Part 1

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Sat Dec 31 2011 - 09:44:17 UTC

  • Next message: Tony Beresford: "Satobs December 31 @ 8597"

    Observations 30 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.
    Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
    
    Wider angle system added. Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera,
    with 50mm focal length f/1.8 lens, continuous 4 sec exposures.
    Field of view  7.1 x 5.2 degrees. Due to nature of camera position
    times are not more accurate than about 1 second, despite PC clock
    controlled by Trimble GPS setup. Observations made with this
    setup have code 18 in the report below.
    
    All images measured manually.
    
    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 G 20111230201150000 56 15 1555484-832618 39  +025 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20111230201152400 56 15 1604053-840220 39  +030 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20111230201154700 56 15 1616151-843949 39  +030 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20111230201157000 56 15 1630124-851529 39  +030 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20111230201159300 56 15 1648315-855232 39  +030 05
    
    UNKNOWN 1
    --------------------
    29 Dec
    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
    30 Dec
    28888 05 042A   0433 G 20111230202630000 18 15 1131160-553354 39  +020 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 G 20111230202635000 18 15 1124020-551933 39  +020 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 G 20111230202640000 18 15 1116470-550400 39  +020 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 G 20111230202646000 18 15 1109080-544450 39  +020 05
    28888 05 042A   0433 G 20111230202640200 56 15 1116456-550809 39  +020 05
    
    UNKNOWN 2
    --------------------
    29 Dec
    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
    30 Dec
    99999 99 999Z   0433 G 20111230212139700 56 15 2212068-583202 39  +050 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 G 20111230212141100 56 15 2215343-581024 39  +055 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 G 20111230212140000 18 15 2212260-582802 39  +050 05
    99999 99 999Z   0433 G 20111230212145000 18 15 2221230-573024 39  +055 05
    
    NOTES:
    --------
    (1) Purpose was to repeat plane scans for USA 129 #24680 and
        USA 186 #28888 and to try and resolve what the two unknowns are that
        were found in the plane sweep for USA 186 on 29 Dec.
    
    (2) 96072A confirmed - was never any doubt as to this identity.
    
    (3) Two objects again found in USA 186 plane sweep and obvious which ones
        match the previous days objects. I have given all the observations
        obtained for the two objects.
    
    (4) I am now beginning to doubt my original identification as to which was
        USA 186. It will be seen that the object originally labelled 28888
        came over at about the same time - about 1 minute later the next day.
        Im dying to know what this is as its so bright!
    
    (5) I now suspect the second object , called 99999 above, is in fact
        #28888. It went into earths shadow just after 21h21m46s UT. The orbital
        period is quite a bit different from what #28888 was. Using the last
        available elements it was  ~69 secs late on prediction for Dec 29 and on
        Dec 30 was ~ 6m 31 sec late on prediction.
    
        Unfortunately this may be my last observation of USA 186 this season as
        it is now entering earths shadow before it clears local obstructions-
        tonight, if clear, may be my last chance to see it if Im lucky.
    
    (6) Fortunately I had the back-up wide angle system operating which proved
        more sensitive than the MINTRON video setup and the wider field helped
        as I only got one image of #28888 with the narrow angle system (extreme
        top right corner), and got shadow entry of 99999 with the wide angle.
    
    (7) Have still a few more to report - nothing exciting (?) as I have still
        to go through approximately 600 images secured during the USA 129 plane
        scan.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
    
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