Optical 27 Sept 2009

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Mon Sep 28 2009 - 07:42:31 UTC

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    Observations 27 Sept 2009
    ---------------------------------
    
    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.
    
    Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera without filters.
    using integration times of 5 sec min to 25 seconds maximum
    depending on brightness of sky in particular area.No image
    processing done, but some done automatically in the auto reduction
    software.
    
    Used with 4 inch SKYWATCHER refractor- model 1025 - fitted with home
    made focal reducer to give an f/2.56 system. Image scale is 6.56 arc
    sec/pixel and field of view 84.8 x 63.2 arc minutes. Shows 15th
    magnitude stars in real time with reasonably good conditions.
    
    Nikkon telephoto lens ~100mm focal length,f/2.8, used with MINTRON
    camera for video observations. Field of view 3.3 x 2.6 degrees approx.
    
    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,
    Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa
    
    FOR CLASSFD.TLE:
    ====================
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090927172103500 16 15 2057078+033823 38  +084 00
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090927172358500 16 15 2100035+034022 38  +082 01
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090927172628500 16 15 2102333+034204 28  +081 00
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090927172833000 16 15 2104379+034332 38  +082 00
    35815 09 047A   0433 F 20090927185514000 16 15 2148319+052600 28  +115 01
    35815 09 047A   0433 F 20090927185814000 16 15 2151298+052602 28  +119 05
    35815 09 047A   0433 F 20090927190012000 16 15 2153284+052602 28  +113 01
    35815 09 047A   0433 F 20090927190147000 16 15 2155037+052601 18  +114 17
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927174333300 56 15 1649341+144224 39  +085 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927174532600 56 15 1723206-015247 39  +083 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927174629100 56 15 1744483-124141 39  +080 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927174714100 56 15 1806313-224947 39  +080 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927194453600 56 15 1517498-441900 39  +100 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927194512400 56 15 1512397-462450 39  +100 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927194527400 56 15 1510109-491137 39  +100 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927194551900 56 15 1502545-524314 39  +100 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927194754100 56 15 1342478-691827 39  +100 05
    35938 09 052B   0433 F 20090927194807200 56 15 1326584-704436 39  +100 05
    
    Strays seen:
    ==============
    THURAYA 2
    27825 03 026A   0433 F 20090927172103500 16 15 2057323+033331 38  +111 01
    27825 03 026A   0433 F 20090927172833000 16 15 2105033+033835 38  +109 01
    
    Notes:
    =========
    (1) Fairly poor conditions with frequent clouds.
    
    (2) APEX used for geostationary reductions with CCD camera.
    
    (3) LEO satellite done using video,and manual reductions
    
    Cheers
    Greg 
    
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