Unknown objects 24 July 2005

From: Greg Roberts (grr@iafrica.com)
Date: Mon Jul 25 2005 - 12:07:20 EDT

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    Observations 24 July 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 150mm focal length f/2.8 lens. This is a telephoto lens
    with variable focal length 15 to 150 mms, manufactured in France by
    ANGENIEUX with model type number 10x15B and at least 15 years old
    with a healthy growth of lens fungus.
    
    Field of view 2.4 x 1.9 degrees at 150mm and about 22 x 19 degrees
    at 15mm focal length.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
    
    UNKNOWNS  24 July 2005:
    
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724164351700 56 15 1445201+133502 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724164623700 56 15 1513122+050145 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724164746900 56 15 1533341-010202 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724165010300 56 15 1621577-141854 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724165159100 56 15 1716025-260851 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724165340200 56 15 1823136-360755 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724165558400 56 15 2011288-434025 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724165729400 56 15 2117099-442310 39
    99999 00 000A   0433 G 20050724165751100 56 15 2130533-440753 39
    
    
    91037 05 205LEO 0433 G 20050724184301700 56 15 1447172-340543 39
    91037 05 205LEO 0433 G 20050724184306800 56 15 1449210-351409 39
    91037 05 205LEO 0433 G 20050724184308000 56 15 1449556-353105 39
    91037 05 205LEO 0433 G 20050724184309300 56 15 1450296-354626 39
    
    
    Notes:
    -------
    
    (1) The element sets provided by Ted Molczan and Scott Campbell
        make tracking of this object easy. Unfortunately I will be
        loosing it in a few days as it goes into daylight. Hopefully
        others will be able to follow it as it is an easy bright object
        and should be fairly easy to see at apogee.
    
    (2) Another stray unknown. This one was seen whilst tracking
        USA 179 rocket. It was about magnitude +7.5 when it first
        entered the image frame FOV but it faded out before crossing
        the field - it looked like a shadow entry.
    
    (3) I have about 30 odd satellites still to measure/report for
        this observing session - hopefully tomorrow.
    
    (4) I did NOT see USA 125 rocket nor USA 89 rocket so they are for
        the moment lost to me.
    
    (5) The lens currently being used is not as sensitive as my usual
        145mm lens so will be "retired" shortly. Its a pity as the zoom
        facility (15mm to 150mm) was useful but loosing about one
        magnitude in sensitivity is not worth this facility. I still
        have some other lenses to evaluate  ( I buy all my lenses from
        second hand shops etc so get them dirt cheap but sometimes
        encounter duds - probably have about two dozen or so lenses -
        Im a great junk collector!).
    
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
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