Optical 06 March 2007

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Wed Mar 07 2007 - 05:14:42 EST

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Observations 06 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:
-------------------

90003 99 503A   0433 G 20070306191115900 56 15 1029106+162447 39  +110 05
90003 99 503A   0433 G 20070306191227600 56 15 1030226+162155 39  +120 05
90003 99 503A   0433 G 20070306191557500 56 15 1033504+161322 39  +110 05
90042 05 828A   0433 G 20070306192302500 56 15 1026180+082513 39  +105 05
90042 05 828A   0433 G 20070306193555600 56 15 1042436+083044 39  +105 05
23967 96 042A   0433 G 20070306202121800 56 15 0529205+072933 39  +135 05
23967 96 042A   0433 G 20070306203212100 56 15 0540114+073534 39  +120 05


Strays seen:
---------------
Eutelsat W1 geostationary
26487 00 052A   0433 G 20070306180221400 56 15 0533487+053111 39  +120 05
SL-12 R/B(2) near geostationary-drifter,range 37300 kms
25318 98 025D   0433 G 20070306182503400 56 15 0551596+071655 39  +130 05
25318 98 025D   0433 G 20070306185122900 56 15 0618145+075533 39  +120 05
Meteosat 7 geostationary
24932 97 049B   0433 G 20070306193717600 56 15 1043141+083654 39  +130 05
SL-12 R/B(2) near geostationary-drifter, range 38500 kms
28139 03 060D   0433 G 20070306193717600 56 15 1044058+083057 39  +120 05


Notes:
--------
(1) #90003 flashing

(2) #90042 slight variability

(3) #23967 (UFO 7) mainly steady with some weak flashing at the end as
    the phase angle changed from 11 to 10 degrees - only really starts
    flashing when phase angle around 5 degrees.

(4) Removed most of the backlash in the system in software. Tonight I
    want to do some pointing tests, for which I will use a 200mm lens,
    and, time permitting, I want to start a scan of the Clarke belt
    looking for new unknown geostationaries.

Cheers
Greg 

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