Observations 18 Aug 2008:
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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 video 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 CLASSFIED.TLE:
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23945 96 038A 0433 F 20080818185246900 56 15 1454340-145958 39 +085 05
23945 96 038A 0433 F 20080818185633800 56 15 1545070-034642 39 +085 05
23945 96 038A 0433 F 20080818190204700 56 15 1628340+072002 39 +080 05
23945 96 038A 0433 F 20080818190611000 56 15 1649060+130056 39 +085 05
29250 06 027B 0433 F 20080818195805300 56 15 1256230-355003 39 +080 05
29250 06 027B 0433 F 20080818200237800 56 15 1546260-165805 39 +070 05
29250 06 027B 0433 F 20080818200909200 56 15 1752150+115036 39 +070 05
90030 05 544A 0433 F 20080818174803000 56 15 1611043+023509 39 +110 05
90030 05 544A 0433 F 20080818175049000 56 15 1613529+022912 39 +110 05
90030 05 544A 0433 F 20080818203442000 56 15 1900364+022832 39 +105 05
32287 07 054A 0433 F 20080818175513000 56 15 1609420+035812 39 +095 05
32287 07 054A 0433 F 20080818175758000 56 15 1612269+040018 39 +095 05
90066 05 667A 0433 F 20080818180512000 56 15 1506117+063111 39 +115 05
90066 05 667A 0433 F 20080818180717000 56 15 1508181+062844 39 +115 05
90066 05 667A 0433 F 20080818203018000 56 15 1731146+033352 39 +105 05
27691 03 008A 0433 F 20080818183405000 56 15 2043056+051412 39 +115 05
27691 03 008A 0433 F 20080818183610000 56 15 2045084+051424 39 +115 05
28546 04 050B 0433 F 20080818201254000 56 15 2051530+152209 39 +110 05
28546 04 050B 0433 F 20080818201544000 56 15 2054308+151648 39 +110 05
27168 02 001A 0433 F 20080818210556000 56 15 2101382+030529 39 +095 05
27168 02 001A 0433 F 20080818211038000 56 15 2106223+030516 39 +095 05
Unknown:
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00003 08 231MEO 0433 F 20080818202224200 56 15 1726196+050556 39 +080 05
00003 08 231MEO 0433 F 20080818202234300 56 15 1726542+044114 39 +080 05
00003 08 231MEO 0433 F 20080818202246100 56 15 1727290+041410 39 +080 05
00003 08 231MEO 0433 F 20080818202256100 56 15 1728011+035058 39 +080 05
00003 08 231MEO 0433 F 20080818202306200 56 15 1728392+032624 39 +080 05
00003 08 231MEO 0433 F 20080818202314600 56 15 1729030+030620 39 +080 05
Strays seen:
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Cosmos 2310 steady
23526 95 012A 0433 F 20080818174040200 56 15 1937530+133251 39 +070 05
CZ-4 Debri steady
20852 90 081Q 0433 F 20080818174056900 56 15 1935070+133555 39 +055 05
Cosmos 807 variable
08744 76 022A 0433 F 20080818174350400 56 15 1605210+024746 39 +085 05
Meteor 2-9 steady
13718 82 116A 0433 F 20080818175815800 56 15 1609250+043816 39 +050 05
Breeze-M debri steady
28477 04 041C 0433 F 20080818181201600 56 15 1523110-101049 39 +075 05
Atlas Centaur rocket, variable, range 9740 kms
12445 80 098B 0433 F 20080818181651100 56 15 1524470-084558 39 +075 05
Kiku 4 steady
13492 82 087A 0433 F 20080818195732100 56 15 1247140-363038 39 +085 05
EGP - always a pretty sight
16908 86 061A 0433 F 20080818193036500 56 15 1142310-594637 39 +060 05
Block DM-SL r/B steady, geostationary
27953 03 044B 0433 F 20080818183405000 56 15 2044285+053404 39 +100 05
27953 03 044B 0433 F 20080818183610000 56 15 2046227+053653 39 +100 05
Intelsat 904 steady, geostationary
27380 02 007A 0433 F 20080818183405000 56 15 2044091+051405 39 +105 05
27380 02 007A 0433 F 20080818183610000 56 15 2046136+051404 39 +105 05
Express 3A steady - see notes below
26378 00 031A 0433 F 20080818195255000 56 15 1642139+052615 39 +130 05
26378 00 031A 0433 F 20080818195541000 56 15 1644575+052553 39 +130 05
Notes:
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(1) Trying out new system and finding the various bugs that need
solving:-((
(2) Unknown observed, flashing from about mag 7 to invisible, short period
with regular (?) short bright flashes
(3) Express 3A - was looking for DSCS 3-12 which was predicted to be close
to EXPRESS 3A which is a commercial satellite. Only one object seen so
unless EXPRESS 3A has been moved it is probably not DSCS 3-12. However
if EXPRESS 3A it was somewhat fainter than what Im accustomed to.
(4) Next tracking session- tomorrow night if clear.
Cheers
Greg
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