Optical 17 Dec 2013

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Thu Dec 19 2013 - 09:45:15 UTC

  • Next message: Kevin Fetter: "Re: Optical 17 Dec 2013"

    Observations 17 Dec 2013
    ------------------------------------
    
    Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
    
    FLI ML8300M CCD camera with mechanical shutter + Trimble GPS 
    
    Used with 85.7mm focal length f/2.8 Nikon lens,shut down to
    f/4 as sky too bright from the full moon.
    Field of view 12.0 x 9.04 degrees.
    Some images processed and measured manually whilst USA 186 done 
    automatically using APEX.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude -33.94058 deg,
    Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa
    
    FOR CLASSFD.TLE:
    ----------------------------
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20131217205035261 16 15 2309374-761347 58       
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20131217205041298 16 15 2328359-744702 58        
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20131217205047352 16 15 2345346-730650 19        
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20131217205053404 16 15 2358517-712533 59        
    28888 05 042A   0433 F 20131217205059455 16 15 0010040-693948 58
    
    UNKNOWNS SEEN:
    ---------------------------
    First one:        
    99998 99 998A   0433 F 20131217202744491 16 15 0823566-711716 28 +075 05
    99998 99 998A   0433 F 20131217202750544 16 15 0802573-703607 28 +075 05
    99998 99 998A   0433 F 20131217202751582 16 15 0756493-702107 28 +080 05
    99998 99 998A   0433 F 20131217202802651 16 15 0722386-684045 28 +078 05
    99998 99 998A   0433 F 20131217202803687 16 15 0716550-682003 28 +080 05
    
    Rather difficult to measure as ends of trail not that well defined as
    object near limit of this system under current tracking conditions.
    
    Second object:
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210722492 16 15 2309168-542533 28 +075 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210728550 16 15 2307516-550732 28 +050 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210734603 16 15 2306179-555144 28 +045 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210740641 16 15 2304520-563235 28 +050 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210746698 16 15 2303077-571609 28 +060 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210752753 16 15 2301538-574554 28 +070 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 F 20131217210758806 16 15 2300176-582411 28 +080 05
    
    This I think is a more interesting object. I have a "gut feeling" it
    could be a molniya type orbit but then could be totally wrong.Trail was
    sometimes difficult to measure on account of the variability.
    
    NOTES:
    ----------
    (1) Purpose of session was to do a plane scan for USA 186.  Several 
        earlier attempts had failed so set up a wider field optical system.
        The satellite found to be in an orbit that is ~4.1 degrees lower in 
        RAAN than the last known orbit, due to a manoeuvre to reduce 
        inclination in mid-November.
    (2) The plane scan lasted 3 hours and approximately 38 objects were
        observed, all identified save for the two unknowns reported above.
    (3) I am currently processing observations obtained on the 18 December
         which includes two passes each of USA 186 and USA 245. Hope to
        report a little later today.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
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