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
My apologies for some duplication of yesterdays report - I found some
additional observations of some of the objects so for sake of
completeness Im reporting such again so that all are available in one
place....
For CLASSFD.TLE:
--------------------------
27168 02 001A 0433 P 20050518174432700 56 15 0937538+051425 39 +110 05
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 20050518174221800 56 15 09`3557+112755 39 +100 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 20050518175040800 56 15 1439425+051904 39 +125 05
90031 05 546A 0433 P 20050518175752400 56 15 1446537+051820 39 +115 05
90031 05 546A 0433 P 20050518180050800 56 15 1449537+051800 39 +120 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
91027 05 625A 0433 P 20050518182840700 56 15 1436075+051525 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
27380 02 007A 0433 P 20050518182840700 56 15 1435286+051618 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
93030 05 629A 0433 P 20050518180554000 56 15 1501131+024929 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
92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518175712300 56 15 1446371+052932 39 +080 05
92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518175808700 56 15 1447363+052616 39 +080 05
92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518175959600 56 15 1449236+051840 39 +085 05
92032 05 138GEO 0433 P 20050518180131700 56 15 1450528+051300 39 +080 05
I cannot find a match for this object in my elements database.It was very
bright and steady and had pronouced trailing. One observation had the
satellite somewhat fainter than "normal" so it has some variability of
small amplitude. This is maybe an HEO rather than GEO?
Commercial geostationaries, and other strays:
------------------------------------------------------
THURAYA 2
27825 03 026A 0433 P 20050518212456200 56 15 1621327+000533 39 +090 05
TV SAT 2
20168 89 062A 0433 P 20050518212851100 56 15 1824435+032456 39 +115 05
20168 89 062A 0433 P 20050518215049900 56 15 1846120+025319 39 +100 05
ATLAS CENTAUR ROCKET
26370 00 028B 0433 P 20050518213042100 56 15 1828487+032508 39 +110 05
26370 00 028B 0433 P 20050518215049900 56 15 1846394+021313 39 +105 05
PAS 4
23636 95 040A 0433 P 20050518213803300 56 15 1838176+050914 39 +105 05
23636 95 040A 0433 P 20050518214004300 56 15 1839175+050853 39 +105 05
EUTELSAT W5
27554 02 051A 0433 P 20050518214004300 56 15 1832435+050701 39 +085 05
ATLAS 3A CEN- orb=213x29932km,p=521m,i=24.8,e=0.7, observed range 29608km
28185 04 007B 0433 P 20050518221236600 56 15 1439358-060753 39 +090 05
EUTELSAT W5
27554 02 051A 0433 P 20050518172451200 56 15 1417013+050752 39 +085 05
27554 02 051A 0433 P 20050518174904600 56 15 1441188+050820 39 +090 05
27554 02 051A 0433 P 20050518180050800 56 15 1453048+050648 39 +100 05
FREGAT R/B-orbit 4430x35777km,p=715m,i=24.3,e=0.59,observed range 11304km
28133 03 059B 0433 P 20050518172451200 56 15 1419586+044904 39 +085 05
PAS 10
26766 01 019A 0433 P 20050518174052800 56 15 1424259+051244 39 +110 05
26766 01 019A 0433 P 20050518175146900 56 15 1435261+051251 39 +115 05
PAS 7
25473 98 052A 0433 P 20050518174052800 56 15 1425082+051155 39 +105 05
25473 98 052A 0433 P 20050518175146900 56 15 1436054+051210 39 +110 05
ATLAS CEN R-orbit 552x36562km,p=653m,i=21.2,e=0.72,observed range 10635km
08621 76 010B 0433 P 20050518175251000 56 15 1440175+041945 39 +095 05
08621 76 010B 0433 P 20050518175542000 56 15 1449459+043645 39 +080 05
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.
(2) I am currently testing some new software found on the web - thanks to
Kevin Fetter - and am contemplating a new project involving LEO and MEO
objects when I have exhausted GEO objects. More about this later.
Cheers
Greg
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