Observations 04 Mar 2007:
-----------------------------------
Cosatrak 2 (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 aperture f/5 Celestron reflector on Vixen Super
Polaris equatorial mount used in alt-azimuth configuration and fitted
with stepper motors on azimuth and elevation axis. Integrating for
96 frames which is equivalent to an exposure of 1.92 seconds per image.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
For CLASSIFD.TLE:
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90005 99 804A 0433 F 20070304182851600 56 15 0603210+141135 39 +110 05
90005 99 804A 0433 F 20070304183239400 56 15 0606480+141214 39 +105 05
90022 04 764A 0433 F 20070304184426000 56 15 0301000+020234 39 +115 05
90022 04 764A 0433 F 20070304185105400 56 15 0307300+022424 39 +095 05
90022 04 764A 0433 F 20070304195556300 56 15 0410150+055553 39 +100 05
90034 05 592A 0433 F 20070304192242000 56 15 0815100+103302 39 +115 05
90034 05 592A 0433 F 20070304192536100 56 15 0818050+103414 39 +120 05
90043 05 835A 0433 F 20070304193940900 56 15 0531500+065751 39 +110 05
90043 05 835A 0433 F 20070304194503500 56 15 0537140+065847 39 +105 05
90053 05 551A 0433 F 20070304194521400 56 15 0542260+131015 39 +095 05
90053 05 551A 0433 F 20070304195150500 56 15 0547380+130910 39 +095 05
90041 05 775A 0433 F 20070304200608200 56 15 0450340+200200 39 +085 05
90041 05 775A 0433 F 20070304200857100 56 15 0454300+200117 39 +105 05
90023 04 776A 0433 F 20070304201001100 56 15 0356270-002935 39 +105 05
90023 04 776A 0433 F 20070304201242400 56 15 0359100-002946 39 +105 05
90036 05 629A 0433 F 20070304205721500 56 15 1302180+044455 39 +115 05
90036 05 629A 0433 F 20070304210205700 56 15 1307040+044246 39 +115 05
90072 05 560C 0433 F 20070304212508500 56 15 1317570-013554 39 +125 05
90072 05 560C 0433 F 20070304213129100 56 15 1324090-015851 39 +115 05
Stray seen:
--------------------
Cosmos 2340 range 13500 kms steady
24761 97 015A 0433 F 20070304192650400 56 15 0819020+103455 39 +110 05
Notes:
------------
(1) Still troubleshooting the new CoSaTrak system. Have solved the
slipping
azimuth problem . Still to determine backlash values and attach a
video camera "finder".
(2) #90022 irregular flasher, very variable in magnitude, sometimes as
bright as mag +9.5 and invisible ( less than mag +14) in between.
(3) #90043 slightly variable, probably less than half magnitude variation.
(4) #90036 steady
(5) #90072 flashing, short period, variable in brightness
(6) #90041 very easy tonight, flashing to mag +8 and visible entire
cycle.
(7) #90033 not seen despite fairly intensive search so may have moved.
From its optical behaviour I suspect it is a DSP satellite.
(8) Very pleased with optical performance of the CoSaTrak II system-
cant wait for the bright moon to disappear! Once I have improved
the pointing accuracy Ill start looking for new faint geo sats.
Cheers
Greg
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