Usual computer controlled satellite tracking system with
145mm focal length f/2.5 lens,integrating for 64 frames
which is equivalent to an exposure of 1.28 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 CLASSFD.TLE:
----------------------------
13172 82 041C 0433 F 20060509162556400 56 15 1301202-031513 39
13172 82 041C 0433 F 20060509162633300 56 15 1238370+065152 39
13172 82 041C 0433 F 20060509162707200 56 15 1220052+152434 39
14728 84 012C 0433 F 20060509163127000 56 15 1604285-780852 39
26906 01 040B 0433 F 20060509163420900 56 15 0253422-302128 39
26906 01 040B 0433 F 20060509163511800 56 15 0240232-380649 39
26906 01 040B 0433 F 20060509163536200 56 15 0232342-414312 39
21798 91 082A 0433 F 20060509165505800 56 15 1753053-582747 39 +065 05
21798 91 082A 0433 F 20060509165610700 56 15 1655282-594822 39 +059 05
21798 91 082A 0433 F 20060509165711600 56 15 1540431-584011 39 +055 05
21798 91 082A 0433 F 20060509165758600 56 15 1434080-543319 39 +052 05
90020 04 539A 0433 F 20060509170506100 56 15 0409041-080059 39 +065 05
90020 04 539A 0433 F 20060509170756500 56 15 0407503-154918 39 +070 05
90020 04 539A 0433 F 20060509171049200 56 15 0403321-254443 39 +065 05
28636 05 011A 0433 F 20060509171635200 56 15 0041198-742633 39 +095 05
28636 05 011A 0433 F 20060509171735400 56 15 0332388-700801 39 +100 05
28636 05 011A 0433 F 20060509171836800 56 15 0514558-543458 39 +090 05
28637 05 011B 0433 F 20060509172052500 56 15 0355361-350654 39 +075 05
28637 05 011B 0433 F 20060509172141100 56 15 0420201-251238 39 +070 05
28637 05 011B 0433 F 20060509172258900 56 15 0447297-093427 39 +075 05
05679 71 110B 0433 F 20060509172408000 56 15 0325055-684036 39 +050 05
05679 71 110B 0433 F 20060509172506200 56 15 0115528-744324 39 +050 05
05679 71 110B 0433 F 20060509172542100 56 15 2344375-745201 39 +053 05
28646 05 016A 0433 F 20060509172736000 56 15 0731104-380635 39 +020 05
28646 05 016A 0433 F 20060509172836200 56 15 0917316-164020 39 +020 05
28646 05 016A 0433 F 20060509172913300 56 15 1006056-022953 39 +020 05
90002 98 789A 0433 F 20060509183000100 56 15 1348207-051058 39 +125 05
Strays seen :
-------------
Noaa 7
12553 81 059A 0433 F 20060509164341200 56 15 0243340-311035 39 +075 05
Cosmos 2092
20737 90 070C 0433 F 20060509165811100 56 15 1416064-525559 39 +080 05
GPS 51 Del 2 rkt
27665 03 005C 0433 F 20060509172053800 56 15 0353521-335238 39 +078 05
Prospero
05880 71 093A 0433 F 20060509180012100 56 15 1847381-782407 39 +080 05
Unknown ???
-----------------
91063 06 129LEO 0433 F 20060509170647900 56 15 0404383-130906 39 +090 05
91063 06 129LEO 0433 F 20060509170648600 56 15 0405363-124604 39 +090 05
91063 06 129LEO 0433 F 20060509170649400 56 15 0406259-122650 39 +090 05
91063 06 129LEO 0433 F 20060509170650200 56 15 0407248-120316 39 +090 05
91063 06 129LEO 0433 F 20060509170650900 56 15 0408113-114325 39 +090 05
91063 06 129LEO 0433 F 20060509170651700 56 15 0408543-112359 39 +090 05
Notes:
-------
(1) The unknown #91062 reported on the 7th May has been identified by
Mike McCants as object 90-102G, catalog number #26795 and listed
as SL-12 debri. Element sets show a very large variation in mean
motion and eccentricity over a time span of one week according
to Mike.The 90-102E and F objects were "aux motors" which
decayed in 1998 and 1991 and 90-102G was only catalogued in June
2001. Mike suggests that it is a piece of mylar and the optical
characteristics and high drag support this. Thanks also to Scott
Campbell for his input.
This object is in a 159.87 minute orbit inclined at 45.92 degrees
and ranging from 1598 out to 5163 kilometres.The latest element
set for this object verifies that Mike's "guess" is correct.
Well done Mike!
I will attempt to observe this object again just for the
satisfaction of knowing what I am looking at.
(2) The unknown #91063 reported today may not be an unknown and I
would be perfectly happy to accept that it was a bird . It was
very faint and I was not really able to detect any flapping
motion. Night birds usually fly over in groups so this may
be an ostracised bird.
(3) Satellites #13172,#14728 and #26906 tracked in very bright twilight
so reference stars rather few and faint.
(4) Geostationary #90002 may be questionable. I did a long exposure
of the predicted area and found a short trail that may or may not
be a satellite - Ill have to wait for darker skies to be more
certain.
(5) Final Ivan Artner reports that #90027 is running late by at least
13 minutes which indicates that an orbit change has been made. Ivan
monitors the satellites radio transmission and is a good example
of how the radio and visual tracker can work together. Now that I
know roughly how late the satellite is running I should be able to
re-locate it and track it until it is moved yet again. Wonder if
it is a Trumpet satellite?
(6) My apologies for the mail problem I am currently having. My reports
reach SeeSat intact but in being converted to the digest form most
of the contents are lost so all I get in my digest is the heading.
Are other receipients having the same problem? I havent changed
anything this side that I know of that should cause this problem.
My server is currently having problems so it looks like there are
quite a few hours delay before this actually reaches SeeSat. I
wonder if its because the local government has just passed a bill
in parliament allowing telephone tapping and interception of
e-mail to be legal.
Cheers
Greg
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