Optical 22 Dec 2013 more

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Tue Dec 24 2013 - 12:58:59 UTC

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    Observations 22 Dec 2013 more
    ------------------------------------
    
    Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
    
    FLI ML8300M CCD camera with mechanical shutter + Trimble GPS
    
    Used with  87mm focal length f/2.8 NIKON lens.
    Field of view 12.0 x 9.0 degrees.
    Most images processed and measured manually.
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude -33.94058 deg,
    Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa
    
    FOR CLASSIFIED.TLE:
    -----------------------
    26907 01 040C   0433 G 20131222185722302 16 15 2250540+064722 38  +035 05
    26907 01 040C   0433 G 20131222185745486 16 15 2304374+110827 28  +035 05
    
    UKNOWNS:
    -----------------
    99998 99 998A   0433 G 20131222204926000 16 15 2138233-702833 28  +030 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 G 20131222190928005 16 15 2251175+065926 28  +040 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 G 20131222190950447 16 15 2256532+080719 28  +040 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 G 20131222191024085 16 15 2304413+094348 28  +040 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 G 20131222191057748 16 15 2312062+111713 28  +040 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 G 20131222191115176 16 15 2315353+120251 18  +040 05
    99999 99 999A   0433 G 20131222191121389 16 15 2317126+122102 28  +040 05
    
    STRAYS:
    ---------------
    01680 65 082AT  0433 G 20131222194407058 16 15 2352570+081159 28  +065 05
    10490           0433 G 20131222185538114 16 15 2250208+101535 28
    04675 70 025AY  0433 G 20131222204851257 16 15 2243455-650707 28  +080 05
    04675 70 025AY  0433 G 20131222204858257 16 15 2232261-652747 28  +080 05
    12849 81 094B   0433 G 20131222205211494 16 15 2227309-605031 28  +035 05
    14154 83 063A   0433 G 20131222205845953 16 15 2217127-660038 28  +075 05
    15944 85 069A   0433 G 20131222194407058 16 15 2347280+024332 28  +020 05
    
    
    NOTES:
    ---------
    
    (1) Purpose was to look for possible MOLNIYA objects - no obvious
        candidates seen.
    
    (2) Unknown 99998 - extreme left bottom corner of image - no start or end
        of trail so not precise time. Bright object - pretty certain its a
        satellite. Direction of travel unknown but track angle similar to an
        Orbcom satellite nearby so inclination around middle 40's ?
    
    (3) Unknown 99999 - looks promising and could be a low inclination object
        in GTO orbit. Bright and steady.
    
    (4) One other unknown seen but only visible in one exposure so direction
        of travel unknown. Since it was so faint and difficult to measure it
        was discarded. May have been a faint meteor as several meteors were
        imaged during the session.
    
    (5) The unknown reported yesterday really had me fooled but I should have
        been more alert as its not the first time I have been fooled by the
        NIKON lens used. The "unknown" was a ghost reflection of the bright
        mag +1.3 star FOMALHAUT that was in the field of view- the lens
        produces ghost satellites about 7 magnitudes fainter than a bright
        star. Apologies to Mike, Ted and Jon for wasting their time in
        trying to fit an orbit.
    
    (6) HILAT #14154 variable.
    
    (7) Lots of other satellites observed and all positively identified so
        not measured as of no real interest to anyone.
    
    Merry Christmas to everyone - I dont think I will be looking for Santa
    Claus this year as I asked him to bring me a nice young brunette and if
    Im not fast asleep when he comes down my dirty chimney he may not leave
    me my wish.  (Heh - old people can dream!!! )      If there is no brunette
    in my stocking tomorrow morning then I will no longer believe in Father
    Christmas :-))
    
    Cheers
    Greg 
    
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