Obs 11 Jan 2005 Part 1

From: Greg Roberts (grr@iafrica.com)
Date: Wed Jan 12 2005 - 11:05:51 EST

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    Observations 11 Jan 2005
    -------------------------------
    
    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 200mm focal length f/3.5 lens giving a field of view of
    about 1.805 x 1.334 degrees and easily showing 12th magnitude stars.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
    
    Part 1:
    ~~~~~~~~
    
    14690 84 012A   0433 G 20050111193835200 17 15 2246214-490211 39
    14690 84 012A   0433 G 20050111193952900 17 15 0029397-404706 39
    14690 84 012A   0433 G 20050111194203500 17 15 0320018+012901 39
    14729 84 012D   0433 G 20050111200930900 17 15 0033552-330943 39
    14729 84 012D   0433 G 20050111201045800 17 15 0156528-150014 39
    14729 84 012D   0433 G 20050111201146200 17 15 0258088+035800 39
    05679 71 110B   0433 G 20050111200319400 17 15 0212108+261521 39
    05679 71 110B   0433 G 20050111200450600 17 15 0222401+122759 39
    05679 71 110B   0433 G 20050111200636200 17 15 0236151-144250 39
    14795 84 012F   0433 G 20050111195550100 17 15 2358227-593636 39
    14795 84 012F   0433 G 20050111195645800 17 15 0154192-525833 39
    14795 84 012F   0433 G 20050111195816000 17 15 0423190-193045 39
    14728 84 012C   0433 G 20050111194844800 17 15 0216027-455553 39
    14728 84 012C   0433 G 20050111194936600 17 15 0336251-272451 39
    14728 84 012C   0433 G 20050111195035200 17 15 0439298-031410 39
    23937 96 029F   0433 G 20050111204207400 17 15 1544108-842850 39
    23937 96 029F   0433 G 20050111204251600 17 15 1054151-791817 39
    23937 96 029F   0433 G 20050111204323200 17 15 1001069-705714 39
    23937 96 029F   0433 G 20050111204421800 17 15 0931063-515058 39
    23947 96 038C   0433 G 20050111203247700 17 15 0030246-563101 39
    23947 96 038C   0433 G 20050111203612200 17 15 0109292-564622 39
    23947 96 038C   0433 G 20050111205343400 17 15 0622278-142859 39
    23947 96 038C   0433 G 20050111205442900 17 15 0641469-071928 39
    23947 96 038C   0433 G 20050111205543400 17 15 0701152+001132 39
    26905 01 040A   0433 G 20050111201506900 17 15 0029334-064000 39
    26905 01 040A   0433 G 20050111201607400 17 15 0059008+020433 39
    26905 01 040A   0433 G 20050111201707900 17 15 0126509+110120 39
    26907 01 040C   0433 G 20050111201506900 17 15 0031480-053415 39
    26907 01 040C   0433 G 20050111201607400 17 15 0100517+030950 39
    26907 01 040C   0433 G 20050111201707900 17 15 0128249+120221 39
    21949 92 023A   0433 G 20050111211758800 17 15 0325053-402139 39
    21949 92 023A   0433 G 20050111211854500 17 15 0230024-614428 39
    21949 92 023A   0433 G 20050111211938600 17 15 0100251-722806 39
    25991 99 067A   0433 G 20050111211502200 17 15 0010562-350629 39
    25991 99 067A   0433 G 20050111211532900 17 15 0027452-283400 39
    25991 99 067A   0433 G 20050111211621800 17 15 0048513-175819 39
    25991 99 067A   0433 G 20050111211653500 17 15 0059353-112237 39
    27938 03 041B   0433 G 20050111210113000 17 15 0714308+003539 39
    27938 03 041B   0433 G 20050111210454000 17 15 0718128+003148 39
    28385 04 034B   0433 G 20050111221404500 17 15 1848503-721142 39
    28385 04 034B   0433 G 20050111221419000 17 15 1753417-722640 39
    28385 04 034B   0433 G 20050111221420900 17 15 1755077-720759 39
    22638 93 026A   0433 G 20050111220504100 17 15 1320259-555024 39
    22638 93 026A   0433 G 20050111220515700 17 15 1308490-533822 39
    23851 96 024A   0433 G 20050111213955000 17 15 1549581-782800 39
    23851 96 024A   0433 G 20050111214025700 17 15 1450088-825004 39
    23851 96 024A   0433 G 20050111214112700 17 15 0825282-841827 39
    23851 96 024A   0433 G 20050111214156900 17 15 0609436-733106 39
    23851 96 024A   0433 G 20050111214242000 17 15 0536574-572347 39
    
    
    Notes:
    ______
    
    (1) Still experimenting - used 48 frame integration throughout,
        which is an exposure of 1 second. On satellites bright enough
        to be seen at 15 degrees elevation I use the "stationary" mode
        where the camera is set at the predicted point and the satellite
        then goes across the field of view, producing a trailed satellite
        and stationary stars down to about magnitude +12. If the satellite
        is not seen at a low elevation I then use the track mode where the
        camera tracks on the satellite, showing it as a dot, and the
        stars trail. A rough estimate of the satellite magnitude possible
        in this configuration is about +12.5 to +13. If the integration
        time were increased to the maximum of 2.56 seconds another magnitude
        may be possible in this mode.
    
    (2) A telephoto lens with focal length 35mm to 100mm was tested but
        results were disappointing - obviously not a good lens. This had
        a field of view of 3.7 x 2.7 degrees at 100mm focal length and showed 
        stars down to magnitude 10 - 10.5. At 40mm focal length the field of 
        view was 8.5 x 6.2 degrees and stars down to about magnitude +9 were 
        clearly identifiable. I was expecting at least another magnitude.
        Another telephoto lens remains to be tested which should be superior
        to the one tested.
        
    (3) The following satellites were NOT seen --
        
        #90028 and #26053. I suspect that they were not running close
        to predicted time so did not pass through my narrow field of
        view- another reason to get a good wide-angle lens for general
        tracking.
        
    (4) All the positions for TIPS #23937 are for the centre of the tether
        which was clearly visible the entire pass which I tracked in the
        "track" mode. Quite fascinating to see how Ralph and Norton produced
        flashes.
        
    (5) Alexis was observed in the track mode and was quite difficult as
        it was invisible most of the short pass.
        
    (6) Still to be reported:
    
        #90013, #23533 (DMSP B5D2-8), #24753 (DMSP 5d-2 S-14)
        #28054 (DMSP F-16), #25744 (SA 144), #25725 (Milstar 3)
        #22519 (USA 89 rocket), #25991 (DMSP F-15), #11389 (DMSP B5D1-4)
        
    (7) About a dozen "strays" still to be identified.
    
    (8) I have gone back to working with the VCR recording as transferring it
        to my hard drive in 4 Gbyte segments was too time consuming and
        introduced errors - I think the VCR tape may not be running 100%
        smoothly which causes frames to be dropped etc. Hopefully this
        problem will be solved at months end when I get a DVD recorder and
        record directly to a DVD disk - this should result in improved image
        quality - (certainly not bad at the moment but always room for
        improvement) - and greater convenience in measuring. All that remains
        now is automated measuring and reporting --- wishful thinking!
    
    (9) Some people may be irritated by my long-winded reporting but from
        the positive feedback I have had from several people it seems it
        is welcomed so guess Ill continue to do it. If anyone has any questions
        etc please free to contact me and I will endevour to assist.
           
    Cheers
    Greg
        
    
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