Observations 17 Jan 2005 Part 1
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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 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.
Found 48 frame integration gave best results, exposure about 1 second.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
Moon causing some problems when observing near it, however overhead I
was able to identify magnitude 13.1 stars on the video recording.
23937 96 029F 0433 F 20050117200507800 17 15 2215489-542449 39
23937 96 029F 0433 F 20050117200859200 17 15 0344576-290121 39
23937 96 029F 0433 F 20050117200928900 17 15 0421566-173226 39
23937 96 029F 0433 F 20050117201000600 17 15 0455032-051044 39
22638 93 026A 0433 F 20050117203531500 17 15 1302189-562835 39
22638 93 026A 0433 F 20050117203612700 17 15 1222349-495723 39
22638 93 026A 0433 F 20050117203702700 17 15 1147262-402141 39
23947 96 038C 0433 F 20050117211116100 17 15 0216080-410027 39
23947 96 038C 0433 F 20050117211136300 17 15 0220193-402803 39
22519 92 086C 0433 F 20050117204359300 17 15 0032511-390354 39
22519 92 086C 0433 F 20050117204516100 17 15 0038536-412112 39
22519 92 086C 0433 F 20050117205046400 17 15 0107441-505138 39
27168 02 001A 0433 F 20050117214304300 17 15 0540151+072312 39 +095 05
27168 02 001A 0433 F 20050117215111000 17 15 0548228+072004 39 +095 05
90028 04 846A 0433 F 20050117211944000 17 15 0209154-383727 39
90028 04 846A 0433 F 20050117211947800 17 15 0212022-382005 39
90028 04 846A 0433 F 20050117211950800 17 15 0214032-380852 39
90028 04 846A 0433 F 20050117211953700 17 15 0216043-375632 39
Notes:
(1) The main purpose of the evening was to try and recover #90028
which had not been seen my previous tracking session, and also
to try and locate some of the geostationaries over my location
that have not been observed for several years in some cases.
(2) An orbit plane search was carried out for #90028, starting 20
minutes early to 20 minutes after predicted time. An unidentified
satellite was sighted running approximately 10 minutes late on
predictions and is reported above as #90028. When my system operates
in orbit plane scan mode I cannot run after a satellite and get
more positions, so the positions above were obtained as it crossed
the field of view. The angular velocity was about 8 arc minutes/sec
which is about correct for the range of the satellite at the time.
(3) Milstar 5 #27168 has not been seen for a long time. I had tried
with my earlier system but nothing positive seen. This time there
was a bright geostationary, a little off track but everything else
seems okay. An Ariane debri object, #26850 ,was close to the area,
but was not seen and moving at a lower altitude and steeper track
angle so Im 99.9% confident this is MILSTAR 5 - very bright - around
magnitude +9.5 and steady.
(4) Lots of strays were seen. An interesting bright one - about magnitude
8 steady was #26383 00-032B CZ-3A R/B at 10335km range. This has
i = 27, P = 544m, and orbit 272 x 31148 kms. Whilst following it
I observed a close grouping of 4 satellites which later were
identified as HOTBIRD 1,2,4 and 6 ( geostationary satellites), at
around magnitude 11.5 steady.
(5) Other strays identified:
#14051 83-041B Delta 1 r/b at 2760 km range
#24304 96-052A Cosmos 2334 at 2270km range, about magnitude 9
#28380 04-028A Cosmos 2407 at 2008km range, magnitude 8
#21965 92-027B Delta 2 R/B at 2095km range, bright at about mag 7
#22220 92-076B SL-16 R/B at 2170km,bright about mag 6
#27942 03-042D UK-DMC fast, faint- about magnitude 10
#20735 90-070A Cosmos 2090, range 1956km, magnitude about 9
#10758 76-077BF Delta 1 Deb, range 2172 km,magnitude about 10
#10513 77-116B SL-8 R/B, range 1919 km, magnitude about 9
#07736 75-028A Cosmos 726, range 2450km,magnitude about 9.5
(6) To report still - tomorrow ( all being well!)
#25017 Lacrosse 3
#25744 USA 144
#14690 Noss 6(a)
#25725 Milstar 3 Cn Rkt
#14728 Noss 6(c)
#14795 Noss 6(f)
#27938 USA 171 rkt
#90013 Unknown geostationary
plus a few more strays.
(7) Not seen, but tried:
#26053 USA 148 Rkt - next time Ill do a plane search for it.
#90004 tried but difficult - low down through very small gap in tree.
#90029 tried but below neighbours roof.
Cheers
Greg
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