Succeeded in imaging J002E3 for my first time last night. I plotted the track using JPL Horizons' ephemeris, (body information below for reference). J002E3 was approximately 5 minutes late, which is about 2 arc-minutes in position. Track was very close to prediction, just late. Distance was 0.00298605 AUs or 277,000 miles -- beyond the Moon's orbit. Definitely the furthest thing I've seen man-made! I estimate it was 16.5 mag or slightly fainter. Photo at: http://photos.yahoo.com/rickbaldridge Click on "StellaCam" album and check out the first image labeled J002E3. Other photos show what the camera can do through a 16" f5 Newtonian prime focus. This isn't the proper forum for this, but let me briefly say the StellaCam is a very nice tool for satellite-watchers. Amazing what this camera can do. With a 24mm f.l. f2.8 lens, it easily sees fainter than I can see naked-eye in real-time (with some integration) -- as good or better than my image intensifier set-up except for the time resolution since the frames integrate. But it's easy to use. I've only had the camera 1 week and imaging J002E3 is the highlight so far! Rick Baldridge Campbell, CA _____________________________________________________________ HORIZONS Body Information **************************************************************************** *** Revised: Feb 10, 2002 -998 Data arc: 2002-Dec-02 to 2003-Feb-09 181 observations. JPL solution #25 (includes solar pressure model). Spectral characteristics consistent with white titanium dioxide paint. Rotation period 63.5 or 127 seconds. [Hergenrother & Whiteley] Orbit uncertainties may be obtained by manually cutting and pasting the elements below into Horizons (telnet or e-mail modes only, not web). Type a semi-colon at the main prompt to enter input mode. FK5/J2000.0 ecliptic osculating elements (AU, DAYS and DEG): EPOCH= 2452635.5 EC= .02716996030750512 QR= .9828082048864124 TP= 2452603.393971162951 OM= 123.6179232922736 W = 298.3747297220217 IN= .03898659723443249 SRC= -2.440234509501828E-9 9.75541534152712D-11 -1.41429229749755D-10 -7.335267961751142E-9 1.394240573045783E-9 -1.283982899904282E-7 -2.04439588375164E-8 -4.672555314132231E-9 -2.35702137754843E-5 -4.199566627825652E-7 -2.78841116413458E-9 -7.952577705997271D-1 0 -3.793667300745569E-6 3.446173072393861E-6 -3.51367200683475E-6 2.412973175025177D-10 -1.909721262332338D-10 -3.601527957936504E-8 1.048537859943002E-5 -1.048623958380677E-5 -8.803558593944337E-9 Physical parameters: H= 25.757 G= (0.15, assumed) AMRAT= 0.0091 Valid time-span: March 1, 2002 to July 5, 2003. ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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