Optical 08 Nov 2006

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Thu Nov 09 2006 - 09:02:07 EST

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    Observations 08 Nov 2006:
    --------------------------------
    
    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,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 CLASSIFIED.TLE:
    --------------------------------
    
    90040 05 683A   0433 F 20061108183835800 56 15 1948062-155712 39  +120 05
    90040 05 683A   0433 F 20061108184041900 56 15 1949319-154622 39  +120 05
    90040 05 683A   0433 F 20061108184301600 56 15 1951117-153337 39  +118 05
    90040 05 683A   0433 F 20061108204936300 56 15 2216471+161650 39  +100 05
    90057 06 676A   0433 F 20061108185030900 56 15 0033595-054424 39  +105 05
    90057 06 676A   0433 F 20061108185454200 56 15 0039023-045607 39  +100 05
    90057 06 676A   0433 F 20061108185559900 56 15 0040211-044405 39  +100 05
    90060 06 640A   0433 F 20061108185917400 56 15 2343393-045932 39  +090 05
    90060 06 640A   0433 F 20061108190104500 56 15 2344547-044503 39  +095 05
    90060 06 640A   0433 F 20061108185905800 56 15 2343293-050102 39  +090 05
    90003 99 503A   0433 F 20061108211700000 56 15 0125234+052222 39  +098 05
    
    Unknown :
    ------------- 
    
    91085 06 312GEO 0433 F 20061108210449600 56 15 2116413-044744 39  +090 05
    91085 06 312GEO 0433 F 20061108210616000 56 15 2118128-044746 39  +090 05
    91085 06 312GEO 0433 F 20061108210720100 56 15 2119154-044645 39  +090 05
    91085 06 312GEO 0433 F 20061108210933300 56 15 2121316-044703 39  +090 05
    
    Strays seen:
    -------------
    
    Leasat 2 PKM  range 5240 kms  variable
    15244 84 093E   0433 F 20061108180553600 56 15 2352312-182420 39  +065 05
    Solrad 7A
    00730 64 001D   0433 F 20061108185454200 56 15 0035183-050654 39  +085 05
    Delta 2 debri
    25138 98 002E   0433 F 20061108193021900 56 15 2327129+054840 39  +078 05
    SL-12 R/B(2)  range 6555 kilometres
    27404 02 016B   0433 F 20061108194141400 56 15 0002327+151714 39  +065 05
    Altas Centaur 2
    00694 06 047A   0433 F 20061108210449600 56 15 2112436-041915 39  +035 05
    
    
    Notes:
    -------
    
    (1) A rather frustrating night but this is always the case when going for
    the fainter/higher/more difficult objects in CLASSIFIED.TLE
    
    (2) #90028 not seen for second time. Radio observations indicate
    that the satellite has done an orbit change and was running about 23
    minutes late on last element set. Will get it next time I track.
    
    (3) #90058 not seen - this has a low perigee which causes problems.
    
    (4) #90050 not seen  - past experience has shown that visibility is very
    critically phase dependent - invisible unless flashing.
    
    (5) #90003 easy - flashing every 21 seconds or so.
    
    (6) The unknown is obviously a DSP satellite as it shows the typical
    DSP flash pattern - an easy object despite the low elevation.
    
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
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