Optical-some- 15 Nov 2008

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Sun Nov 16 2008 - 14:32:56 UTC

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    Observations 15 Nov 2008 Part 1
    -------------------------------------------
    
    Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
    Camera mount now carries two systems that can be operated
    together as two totally different sytems and computers used.
    Generally the DSI Pro II camera will be used for high altitude
    slow moving objects. Tests seem to indicate that its sesnitivity
    is comparable to the MINTRON ( possibly better) but as its not
    possible (?) to time stamp to better than 1 second accuracy the
    time resolution is not good enough for LEO objects.
    
    (1) 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 135mm focal length f/2.8 lens,integrating for 128 frames
    which is equivalent to a max exposure of 2.56 seconds maximum
    per image. Field of view 2.7 x 2.1 degrees.
    Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
    
    (2)Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera without filters.
    using integration times of 20 sec min to 60 seconds maximum
    depending on brightness of sky in particular area.No image
    processing done but dark field applied.
    Used with 200mm focal length f/2.8 Nikkon telephoto lens,
    field of view 1.88 x 1.40 degrees. Can get to magnitude 13
    or so in less than 20 seconds exposure.
    Exposure time to nearest second inserted into image FITS header
    from PC clock which is automatically checked every minute against
    GPS signal.
    
    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:
    ------------------------ 
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115190441300 56 15 0642411-363449 39  +055 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115190513700 56 15 0621114-323857 39  +050 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115190601900 56 15 0549443-250703 39  +047 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115204109500 56 15 1738207-683021 39  +060 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115204144100 56 15 1849173-645449 39  +055 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115204214800 56 15 1942195-590645 39  +040 05
    24680 96 072A   0433 G 20081115204314500 56 15 2051544-411738 39  +055 05
    
    
    Unknown:
    -----------
    91124 08 820MEO 0433 G 20081115195427300 56 15 0541400-484124 39  +075 05
    91124 08 820MEO 0433 G 20081115195438600 56 15 0546061-485653 39  +065 05
    91124 08 820MEO 0433 G 20081115195445800 56 15 0548477-490549 39  +075 05
    91124 08 820MEO 0433 G 20081115195451200 56 15 0550510-491231 39  +075 05
    
    
    Notes:
    ------
    
    (1) This was a marathon 7 hour non-stop observing session. It will take
        me several days to measure everything so I will report all the
        objects in one report except for those above.
    
    (2) The unknown object looks familiar - ie Ive seen the optical
        characteristics before. Short period of a few seconds ranging from
        about mag 7.5 to about mag +6.5.
    
    (3) So far I have only measured the observations made with the video
        camera and the objects observed include:
    
        Milstar 3 CnR, 90046, Alexis, USA 129 (2 passes), AMS-4, Stex,
        SDS-3F4, Noss 6 F, Noss 2-3A, 90006, USA 184r, 90040, 90081,
        Noss 2-1A plus about ten "strays".
    
    (4) With the CCD camera I observed about 28 "classified" objects in
        geostationary orbit. There are also several unknowns that I could
        not identify at the time but are probably known objects and will
        probably be identified on closer examination.
    
    (5) Two major satellites could not be found - namely MERCURY 1 (94054A)
        and VORTEX 6 (89035A). The latter I class as an easy object so rather
        surprised I did not find it. It is suspected of still being
        operational but it has not moved since amateurs started tracking it,
        and its rather unlikely that a satellite this old will still be able
        to change its orbit, so for the moment I am puzzled.
    
    (6) Another puzzling observations is that I could detect no radio
        transmissions a few days ago from DSP-F23 (07054A) which is a fairly
        recent launch and is maintaining station. Previously the signals were
        easy to receive so has this gone silent?  It was observed last night at
        its usual location. DSP-F19, which is stranded in  a GTO orbit, appears
        to only transmit when near apogee so appears to be operational still.
    
    
    
    
    Cheers
    Greg 
    
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