Observations made 31 Dec 2002
---------------------------------------
CoSaTrak 1, 85mm f/1.6 lens with 0.003 lux CCD surveillance camera.
+ 25mm f/1.4 lens with 0.01 lux surveillance camera
Conditions - good - Seeing good
Cospar Site #0433 Long 18.5129 E, Lat 33.9406 S, altitude 10 metres
This was not reported earlier as it was an UNKNOWN which was subsequently
identified by Ted. It wasnt in my ALLDAT.TLE of 26 Dec as the satellite was
too
newly launched.
27613 02 059A 0433 G 20021231210327800 17 15 0301390-155547 39 S+075 05
27613 02 059A 0433 G 20021231210342900 17 15 0302560-165913 39 S+075 05
27613 02 059A 0433 G 20021231210401400 17 15 0304087-181931 39 S+075 05
The satellite, COSMOS 2393 , is in a typical MOLNIYA type orbit and was
observed at a distance of about 4100 kilometres.
My other object, reported earlier (observed at 22h21m07.0s UT) remains
unidentified.
The orbit derived from the observation has the satellite just in shadow at
the time so
maybe it was a late flying bird again - I suspect one of the elves of Father
Christmas
returning home rather late more than the possibility of it being a bird .
The object had small fluctuations in brightness but every 4.7 second it
increased in
magnitude by about 0.5 magnitude so this remains a mystery. Do birds nod
their head
or change their flight attitude every 4.7 seconds?- I havent a clue!
Correction:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I certainly cannot start the New Year without making a mistake! Here is an
amended position for USA 129. I stupidly misidentified the field when
setting
up the FITS image - dont try and do this when you are tired and half asleep!
Thanks to Pierre for catching it.
24680 96 072A 0433 G 20021231212701400 17 15 0110398-402140 39 S+059 05
Converted by IODEQ to 1950 format :
HH MM SS.ss DD MM SS.s
27613 02 059A 20021231 2103:27.800 02 59 18.87 -16 07 34.1 B1950
27613 02 059A 20021231 2103:42.900 03 00 36.90 -17 10 56.0 B1950
27613 02 059A 20021231 2104:01.400 03 01 50.91 -18 31 10.2 B1950
24680 96 072A 20021231 2127:01.400 01 08 23.11 -40 37 36.3 B1950
Cheers
Greg
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