Observations 18 Jan 2006:(Part 2- last)
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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.
Conditions good until the moon came up.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
For CLASSFD.TLE:
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27168 02 001A 0433 G 20060118220601100 56 15 0606143+070323 39 +085 05
90005 99 804A 0433 G 20060118215825200 56 15 0408191+123149 39 +110 05
90005 99 804A 0433 G 20060118190738900 56 15 0133346+081806 39 +105 05
90008 00 838A 0433 G 20060118194545200 56 15 0734271+044215 39 +100 05
90013 03 564A 0433 G 20060118185320300 56 15 0553487+130326 39 +080 05
90029 05 512A 0433 G 20060118205556700 56 15 0630029+204738 39 +075 05
90031 05 546A 0433 G 20060118194834000 56 15 0842462+061413 39 +110 05
90033 05 558A 0433 G 20060118203223600 56 15 0449248+052713 39 +110 05
90033 05 558A 0433 G 20060118203813800 56 15 0455147+053036 39 +110 05
90034 05 592A 0433 G 20060118202825900 56 15 0621074+084102 39 +110 05
90035 05 625A 0433 G 20060118212317900 56 15 0935588+051934 39 +110 05
90043 05 835A 0433 G 20060118204745200 56 15 0343485+065732 39 +110 05
Strays seen:
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IRS B3 variable, fast
23827 96 017A 0433 G 20060118184450200 56 15 0140075+244806 39 +065 05
Noaa 8 bright and steady
13923 83 022A 0433 G 20060118185527000 56 15 0123000+064456 39 +060 05
SL-8 R/B variable
11309 79 026B 0433 G 20060118190547100 56 15 0129176+081047 39 +070 05
Pegasus rocket body steady
25506 98 060B 0433 G 20060118191953500 56 15 0437277+241656 39 +060 05
Cosmos 1383
13301 82 066A 0433 G 20060118194340100 56 15 0730292+045300 39 +060 05
SL-14 rocket body
28506 04 052B 0433 G 20060118204028600 56 15 0138098+014150 39 +080 05
SL-8 rocket body
09510 76 108B 0433 G 20060118204143700 56 15 0139516+023401 39 +060 05
Meteor 1-26 unexpectedly faint
09481 76 102A 0433 G 20060118210716800 56 15 1306202-493945 39 +085 05
Ariane 5 rocket body range 14412 kilometres
27832 03 028C 0433 G 20060118205802100 56 15 0631450+205007 39 +085 05
Intelsat 904
27380 02 007A 0433 G 20060118212317900 56 15 0936244+051902 39 +110 05
Vanguards:
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Vanguard 1
00005 58 002B 0433 G 20060118192318600 56 15 0541393+125050 39 +120 05
Vanguard 3
00020 59 007A 0433 G 20060118213428800 56 15 0234317-072741 39 +095 05
Notes:
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(1) #90029 nice flasher, flashing at about magnitude +7 and invisible
in between flashes. Period 64.3 seconds.
(2) Vanguard satellites and associated rockets added to my prediction
element set out of curiosity. So far Vanguard 1 and 3 tracked.
Since these satellites are faint I track on predictions so if the
element set is reasonably accurate the satellite will appear as a
"stationary" object close to centre of the field of view as the
mount follows the satellite. Stars are "trailed". This happened
with both Vanguard satellites. Vanguard 1 was seen briefly from
time to time as a variable object with maximum magnitude of around
+12 , being invisible most of the time. Vanguard 3 was much easier
and was seen most of the time and brightening to about mag 9.5
at times , the remainder of the time being about a magnitude
fainter.
Cheers
Greg
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