Observations made 10 Sep 2002 #1
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CoSaTrak 1, 85mm f/1.6 lens with 0.003 lux CCD surveillance camera.
Conditions - good. CCD camera now has remote focussing control.
Cospar Site #0433 Long 18.5129 E, Lat 33.9406 S, altitude 10 metres
During an orbit plane scan for USA 89 rocket (92-86C, # 22519) two
brightish unknowns were seen that I have not been able to positively
identify so far - I originally suspected that the first one was USA 89
rocket and running 8 minutes early but it looks like the inclination is
a little out so now I am not so sure.
The following positions were obtained by copying the video output into
my pc and making an AVI file, which I then examined frame by frame and
converted suitable ones into BMP images which were then converted into
FITS images and measured. In the case of the first one I only had two
other stars bright enough to use for determining scale etc and one was
dangerously close to the edge of the field of view so field curvature
distortion may be a problem. In addition the stars were not ideally
placed adding to position determination distortion.
I have called the first one 02-999A, number 99990
( I know there is a recommended system somewhere but havent a clue where
to find it in all my papers/cd's etc!).
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174850400 17 15 0050360-422154 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174851800 17 15 0049470-420714 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174852900 17 15 0049090-415632 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174855600 17 15 0047520-413119 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174857600 17 15 0046510-411143 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174858400 17 15 0046290-410135 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174900700 17 15 0045170-403952 39 S+065 05
99990 02 999A 0433 G 20020910174902600 17 15 0044420-402059 39 S+065 05
and a possible 2nd unknown going the same way and flashing regularly:
(called 02-999B, number 99991 )
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175819200 17 15 0104330-461743 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175824300 17 15 0101250-453820 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175826500 17 15 0100080-452037 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175827500 17 15 0059290-451357 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175827800 17 15 0059220-451133 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175832400 17 15 0056430-443533 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175834500 17 15 0055390-441924 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175836800 17 15 0054180-440244 39 R+065 05
99991 02 999B 0433 G 20020910175837600 17 15 0053510-435646 39 R+065 05
this object flashed regularly and each of the positions given was when a
flash happened as it was invisible in between.
I hope to report positional observations on the following objects also
observed last night but not yet reduced ( hope to do this tomorrow ):
#07816 DMSP B5C-04 - on time
#22638 Alexis - on time
#23233 DMSP B5D2-7 - on time
#26906 USA 160 rocket - on time
NOSS 7D - on time
#25615 Stex - on time
#21798 DMSP B5D2-6 - on time
#26906 USA 160 rocket - on time
#26905 USA 160 - on time
#26907 USA 160 (C) - on time
#25725 Milstar 3 cen rkt - on time
#25744 USA 144 - on time
#25035 USA 136 cen rkt - running about 2 minutes LATE
("on time" means it was within a few seconds and the camera was able to
track on the predicted trajectory)
The pass of USA 160/USA 160 (C) was one of the most spectacular I have
ever seen - VERY bright and an 80 degree elevation pass- I tracked it from
horizon to horizon ( well, down to 10 degrees elevation).
Cheers
Greg
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Sep 11 2002 - 13:12:10 EDT