Observations 06 Feb 2007:
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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
For Classified.Tle:
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90046 05 864A 0433 G 20070206182209400 56 15 0206381-101120 39 +080 05
90046 05 864A 0433 G 20070206182534100 56 15 0216141-211033 39 +075 05
90046 05 864A 0433 G 20070206182827800 56 15 0227434-335027 39 +070 05
90046 05 864A 0433 G 20070206183054200 56 15 0241334-462618 39 +070 05
90046 05 864A 0433 G 20070206183248800 56 15 0304430-601148 39 +070 05
27168 02 001A 0433 G 20070206204825700 56 15 0801034+065728 39 +085 05
Strays seen:
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Astex 1 steady
05560 71 089A 0433 G 20070206182921400 56 15 0233274-373257 39 +035 05
SL-14 R/B steady
18749 88 001B 0433 G 20070206183011800 56 15 0238094-434342 39 +035 05
SL-8 R/B
23190 94 045B 0433 G 20070206191637300 56 15 1448125-682437 39 +055 05
SL-12 R/B geo drifter
28466 04 043D 0433 G 20070206205050600 56 15 0801214+065954 39 +115 05
Hotbird 5 geostationary
25495 98 057A 0433 G 20070206210627100 56 15 0759532+053412 39 +105 05
Arabsat 3A geostationary
25638 99 009A 0433 G 20070206210627100 56 15 0800219+052942 39 +110 05
Arabsat 4B geostationary
29526 06 051A 0433 G 20070206210627100 56 15 0800481+053100 39 +105 05
Pas 5 geostationary
24916 97 046A 0433 G 20070206210627100 56 15 0801137+053132 39 +115 05
Comets range 10220 km, steady
25175 98 011A 0433 G 20070206211034600 56 15 0803007+050102 39 +085 05
Ariane 44P R/B range 25460 kms, variable
25461 98 049B 0433 G 20070206211802700 56 15 0800388+050713 39 +105 05
IUS R/B range 12700 kms, steady
23614 95 035C 0433 G 20070206213220200 56 15 0759018+052724 39 +090 05
Sicral 1 geostationary
26694 01 005A 0433 G 20070206215115200 56 15 0801140+053219 39 +090 05
Eutelsat W2 geostationary
25491 98 056A 0433 G 20070206215115200 56 15 0800065+053240 39 +110 05
Block DM-SL R/B range 33400 kms
27953 03 044B 0433 G 20070206220229600 56 15 0802315+061902 39 +105 05
SL-12 R/B , range 37170 kms, variable
27780 03 015F 0433 G 20070206220308500 56 15 0803139+062616 39 +120 05
Notes:
-------
(1) Main purpose was to try out a new technique - for me anyway - of
locating high altitude satellites without being in attendance.
Simply set the camera/scope on a known RA and Dec and then let
the system drive at sidereal rate. Stars will appear as stellar
points whilst any satellites seen will trail. For geostationary
satellites near the celestial equator the trail will be about 1
degree long in a 4 minute exposure. The trail will enable an
approximation of the inclination to be made, as well as determine
variability.
(2) During the period tested 18 satellites were observed, the most in
the 2 degree field of view at one time being 8. Only two satellites
in the predicted scan zone area were not seen. My first impressions
are that this method is more effective than what I have been using
to date and has the "beauty" that I can set it up shortly after
sunset and then let it scan automatically for as long as I wish-
probably 4 hours maximum ( duration of DVD recording disk).
When the boss ( wife) is in a good mood I plan to convince her
that I need another DVD recorder with a harddrive as the recorded
quality is superior to that recorded to a DVD disk and in addition
a large drive will record for tens of hours in one go. (Besides I need
a second DVD recorder)
(Actually my wife is in a good mood most of the time so its
really up to me when I want to go and spend some more money!)
(3) Tonight I plan to do some more tests, this time with a wider angle
lens but the same magnitude penetration - ie was using 145mm focal
length lens at f/2.5 ( effective aperture 58mm), now will use
70mm focal length lens at f/1.2 (effective aperture 58.3mm).
Cheers
Greg
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