Optical 10 March 2007

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Sun Mar 11 2007 - 03:48:47 EDT

  • Next message: Greg Roberts: "Re:optical 10 March 2007"

    Observations 27 Feb 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
    
    Unknown:
    -------------
    
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310191537700 56 15 0410130+182436 39  +120 05
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310192049800 56 15 0415270+182309 39  +115 05
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310192546800 56 15 0420250+182139 39  +115 05
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310193119600 56 15 0425590+181915 39  +115 05
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310193633600 56 15 0431140+181646 39  +125 05
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310194034200 56 15 0435160+181431 39  +110 05
    91098 07 069GEO 0433 P 20070310194110000 56 15 0435510+181406 39  +110 05
    
    
    Stray seen :
    -----------------
    
    Atlas Centaur R/B
    03598 68 110B   0433 P 20070310185500600 56 15 0422450+200735 39  +045 05
    
    Notes:
    -----------
    
    (1) Once again the combination of radio and visual observations has
        produced results. This time Ivan Artner discovered DSP like radio
        signals in the vicinity of #90041 but his antenna bearings indicated
        it was not #90041- times of shadow entry did not correspond either.
    
    (2) An optical search of the suspect area revealed the above object which
        shows DSP like optical characteristics. Through the marvels of the
        Internet Peter Wakelin was also able to locate the object.
    
    (3) My magnitude estimates may be a little out- I was observing through
        light mist at an elevation of 17 degrees and into the bright sky
        glow of Cape Town (I live in the middle of Cape Town surrounded by
        freeways).
    
    (4) I could not see #90041 even though I was looking at the predicted
        location so it was in its dormant "flashing" state. This one is
        fussy about phase angle for flashes!
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
     
    
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