Optical 17 Dec 2013

grr@telkomsa.net

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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