Update obs 01 March 2005

From: Greg Roberts (grr@iafrica.com)
Date: Fri Mar 04 2005 - 12:25:12 EST

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    Observations 01 March 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. Due to bright sky it is not worthwhile integrating
    more than 48 frames which is equivalent to an exposure of 0.96 seconds.
    
    Used with 145mm focal length f/2.5 lens giving a field of view of
    about 2.55 x 1.86 degrees and easily showing 12th magnitude stars.
    Not the best lens optically but the most useful in terms of field
    of view and magnitude penetration.
    
    Data recorded on DVD R/W disks - will be kept for 1 month and then
    re-used - just in case any queries as Im always making mistakes!
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
    
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    Here is an update on the following previously reported as
    "High altitude unknowns"
    
    Object No 1:
    
    The following is still unknown but here are two additional observations
    found when I re-examined the same field taken several hours earlier
    
    99999 00 000X   0433 G 20050301184532300 17 15 0826208+200354 39
    99999 00 000X   0433 G 20050301184728500 17 15 0828155+200031 39
    
    99999 00 000X   0433 G 20050301221827000 17 15 1155125+093222 39
    99999 00 000X   0433 G 20050301221924500 17 15 1156058+092827 39
    99999 00 000X   0433 G 20050301221946600 17 15 1156263+092651 39
    99999 00 000X   0433 G 20050301222024100 17 15 1157052+092407 39
    
    This object flashes irregularly to about mag +10.5
    
    Object No 2 labelled "99998 00 000Y":
    
    Mike has identified this as Raduga 9, so here is the correct report
    plus two additional observations made from when I examined the field
    several hours earlier:
    
    12618 81 069A   0433 G 20050301184612500 17 15 0825290+194334 39
    12618 81 069A   0433 G 20050301184727400 17 15 0826467+194131 39
    
    12618 81 069A   0433 G 20050301221835600 17 15 1157026+091300 39
    12618 81 069A   0433 G 20050301221720000 17 15 1155501+091901 39
    12618 81 069A   0433 G 20050301221950900 17 15 1158154+090807 39
    
    Regularly flashes to about +7th mag, invisible in between.
    
    #28538 05004B NOSS 3-3 rocket:
    -------------------------------
    Ted asked if I had a period for the magnitude variation. As best I could
    determine from the pass observed the period was between 5.0 and 5.1 seconds
    with a secondary maximum about in-between.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
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