Obs 18 May 2005 Part 1

From: Greg Roberts (grr@iafrica.com)
Date: Thu May 19 2005 - 12:22:34 EDT

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    Observations 18 May 2005:
    --------------------------------------
    
    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.
    
    Used with 145mm focal length f/2.5 lens and easily showing 12th
    magnitude stars.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
    
    
    For CLASSFD.TLE:
    -------------------------
    
    27168 02 001A   0433 P 20050518224803000 56 15 1442074+031145 39  +095 05
    90013 03 564A   0433 P 20050518171410800 56 15 1207475+063957 39  +080 05
    90013 03 564A   0433 P 20050518212511100 56 15 1620345-010051 39  +075 05
    90016 03 766A   0433 P 20050518215856000 56 15 1402277+031046 39  +100 05
    90030 05 544A   0433 P 20050518173749200 56 15 1436264+064928 39  +110 05
    90030 05 544A   0433 P 20050518213703300 56 15 1838140+005936 39  +100 05
    90030 05 544A   0433 P 20050518214950800 56 15 1851082+004546 39  +105 05
    90031 05 546A   0433 P 20050518214105200 56 15 1832109+044653 39  +100 05
    90034 05 592A   0433 P 20050518215444800 56 15 1540298+044956 39  +100 05
    
    
    Observations of previous unknowns:
    ----------------------------------------------
    
    (1) 91027 previously called 05 124GEO: (I remember it as "Intelsat"
        since its close to Intelsat 904)
    
    91027 05 625A   0433 P 20050518170228200 56 15 1309429+051459 39  +120 05
    91027 05 625A   0433 P 20050518171053200 56 15 1318100+051608 39  +120 05
    
    This was very close to Intelsat 904 so,since Im not positive which is
    which here are positions for the object I think is Intelsat 904:
    
    27380 02 007A   0433 P 20050518170228200 56 15 1309051+051636 39  +110 05
    27380 02 007A   0433 P 20050518171053200 56 15 1317343+051756 39  +110 05
    
    (2) 93030 previously called 05 129GEO: (low in my eastern sky)
    
    93030 05 629A   0433 P 20050518171641500 56 15 1411532+025757 39  +105 05
    93030 05 629A   0433 P 20050518171843200 56 15 1413548+025633 39  +105 05
    93030 05 629A   0433 P 20050518173450900 56 15 1430051+025426 39  +100 05
    
    
    New Unknowns:
    -----------------------
    
    (No 1)
    91031 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518172019400 56 15 1416019+005817 39  +110 05
    91031 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518172047700 56 15 1416292+005809 39  +110 05
    91031 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518172055200 56 15 1416398+005744 39  +110 05
    
    The images were slightly trailed which indicates that the object was
    moving and not really stationary. There is a possibility that this object
    is in fact the same object called 93030 in a previous report as the images
    looked very similar in shape and magnitude. If this is the case then the
    three observations immediately above are in fact for 93030 and the object
    reported inder "previous unknowns" as 93030 is in fact a totally new object.
    I called the first object 93030 because it was closest to the preliminary
    orbit based on the discovery observations.
    
    (No 2)
    92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518173909400 56 15 1429068+064011 39  +075 05
    92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518173937600 56 15 1429368+063738 39  +075 05
    92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518174005800 56 15 1430027+063617 39  +075 05
    
    I cannot find a match for this object in my elements database. It was very
    bright and steady and had pronouced trailing.
    
    
    
    Notes:
    ----------
    
    (1) Despite being a poor night, dodging the moon and heavy cloud, I did a
        lot better than expected. I still have more to measure and have
        still to report all the commercial geostationaries and other objects
        seen. If anyone is curious I am NOT specifically looking for commercial
        geostationaries but have to identify what is seen so that the "unknowns"
        can be isolated.
    
    
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
    
    
    
    
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