Optical 20 Dec 2016 Part 1

From: Greg Roberts via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2016 09:04:24 +0200
Observations 20 Dec 2016 Part1
--------------------------------------------------

Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).

FLI ML8300M CCD camera with mechanical shutter + Trimble GPS

Used with NIKON ED AF NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens
set at 115 mm focal length. Field of view 537 x 405 arc minutes,
image scale 38.7 arc sec/pixel. First pass of OTV4 measured
at 9.7 arc sec/pixel

Site 0433 : Longitude 18.5124 deg East, Latitude -33.9406 deg,
Elevation 9 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa

FOR CLASSFD.TLE:
---------------------
28888 05 042A   0433 G 20161220191940127 16 15 2353142-362245 68
28888 05 042A   0433 G 20161220191942689 16 15 2354250-344607 58
28888 05 042A   0433 G 20161220191945242 16 15 2355351-330607 58
28888 05 042A   0433 G 20161220191947789 16 15 2356330-313501 58
28888 05 042A   0433 G 20161220191950332 16 15 2357290-300326 68
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220183454798 16 15 1926534-865058 28
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220183459178 16 15 1409141-894020 28
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220183503556 16 15 0816065-865515 28
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220201025959 16 15 2232467-551247 58
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220201028504 16 15 2239398-562828 58
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220201031059 16 15 2246402-573939 58
40651 15 025A   0433 G 20161220201033619 16 15 2255201-585951 58

UNKNOWN:
---------
99990           0433 G 20161220201228492 16 15 2226292-523210 58
99990           0433 G 20161220201231046 16 15 2228181-520945 58
99990           0433 G 20161220201233608 16 15 2230147-514659 68

STRAYS SEEN:
-------------
32959 08 026B   0433 G 20161220201028504 16 15 2232198-524347 58
32959 08 026B   0433 G 20161220201031059 16 15 2228293-530834 29
32959 08 026B   0433 G 20161220201036173 16 15 2220588-535428 69

NOTES:
--------
(1)Purpose of observing session was to do plane scans for USA186
    and OTV4 in order to tie down the mean motion properly.

(2)Managed to get two passes of OTV4 which showed satellite to be
    running about 6 minutes early on current element set based on
    observations of 17 Dec 2016.

(3)USA186 running about 16 minutes late on element set based on
    observations of 07 December 2016.

(4)The unknown -- I am using a nice telephoto lens but due to the
    large number of internal lens surfaces, there is a problem
    ghost images. Normally easy to identify but when the lens is
    used in a plane scan the mount is moving the whole time so the
    ghost image/images produce trails which look just like a
    satellite. This probably explains the two unknowns observed
    on the 17th. So here is yet another unknown which may or may
    not be real. I think it is but may be wrong! It was only seen
    in three images and near the centre and was variable. At the
    speed at which it was moving it should have been seen in at
    least ten images which makes me think it is real.Fitting a
    circular orbit I get inclination 90.2 deg, height 1379 km,
    range 2100 km, period 113.39 min ( n= 12.6995), and RA node
    38.134 degrees.  About magnitude +8 max, variable - only visible
    a few seconds so either small or debris .

(5)I will measure the other satellites- approximately 25 seen in
    case anything worthwhile.

Cheers
Greg

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Received on Wed Dec 21 2016 - 01:05:17 UTC

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