Optical 04 Dec 2008 Part 2

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Sun Dec 07 2008 - 11:42:25 UTC

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    Observations 04 Dec 2008 Part 2
    ---------------------------------------
    
    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 sensitivity
    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 50mm focal length f/1.8 lens,integrating for 128 fields
    which is equivalent to a max exposure of 2.56 seconds maximum
    per image. Field of view 6.8 x 5.4 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,
    Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa
    
    
    Strays seen:
    --------------
    H-2A R/B  range 34832 kms, variable
    26899 01 038B   0433 G 20081204200934000 56 15 0155028+071133 39  +095 05
    MARECS 2 geostationary , long period variable +12  -> invisible
    15386 84 114B   0433 G 20081204211913000 56 15 0255468+091656 39  +120 05
    CZ-3 R/B  range 7225 kms, variable
    23944 96 039B   0433 G 20081204212355000 56 15 0300296+092143 39  +055 05
    SL-12 R/B, range 20540 kms, variable
    29673 06 062D   0433 G 20081204213319000 56 15 0309464+091821 39  +090 05
    IUS R/B , range 15730 kms, variable
    23614 95 035C   0433 G 20081204214243000 56 15 0314423+100342 39  +085 05
    COSMOS 2436 ( GLONASS) range 20580 kms, steady
    32395 07 065C   0433 G 20081204214050000 56 15 0313410+100148 39  +090 05
    ATLAS 2AS CENTAUR R, range 11110 kms, variable
    26858 01 026B   0433 G 20081204214821000 56 15 0324334+100556 39  +080 05
    DELTA 3 R/B, steady - this satellite has perigee of about 100 miles.
    26475 00 048B   0433 G 20081204195647300 56 15 0133540+083117 39  +020 05
    ARIANE 42P R/B, steady
    22079 92 052D   0433 G 20081204200138700 56 15 0149430+075844 39  +035 05
    THOR ABLESTAR Rocket, variable
    00447 62 060B   0433 G 20081204201703800 56 15 0158330+080254 39  +055 05
    SL-8 R/B , variable
    13260 82 055B   0433 G 20081204205007200 56 15 2241100-063654 39  +060 05
    IRIDIUM 86, steady
    25528 98 066B   0433 G 20081204205739100 56 15 2301190-043035 39  +065 05
    PSLV-R/B , steady
    26960 01 049D   0433 G 20081204185125200 56 15 0035060+023043 39  +035 05
    COSMOS 1089, variable
    11308 79 026A   0433 G 20081204191900500 56 15 0112090+055533 39  +055 05
    SL-8 R/B, variable
    27466 02 036C   0433 G 20081204193734100 56 15 0128180+053722 39  +040 05
    ATLAS AGENA D rocket, steady
    02144 66 031B   0433 G 20081204195427200 56 15 0132340+054439 39  +035 05
    ARIANE 44 P R/B, range 18290 kms, variable
    25461 98 049B   0433 G 20081204204035000 56 15 0219564+073928 39  +085 05
    JB-3B, steady
    27550 02 049A   0433 G 20081204182922800 56 15 0444580+135711 39  +040 05
    METEOR 1-14, variable
    06392 73 015A   0433 G 20081204183931900 56 15 0020510+025614 39  +040 05
    
    Notes:
    --------
    (1) This concludes observations made 04 December 2008 so now up to date.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
    
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