Observations 06 Feb 2008:
-------------------------------
Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
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 200mm focal length f/3.5 lens,integrating for 96 frames
which is equivalent to an exposure of 1.92 seconds per image.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
For CLASSIFIED.TLE:
---------------------------
90013 03 564A 0433 G 20080206182525400 56 15 0639440+134035 39 +075 05
90013 03 564A 0433 G 20080206183107400 56 15 0645260+134124 39 +075 05
90016 03 766A 0433 G 20080206184947900 56 15 0156450+073525 39 +105 05
90016 03 766A 0433 G 20080206185100200 56 15 0157480+073750 39 +105 05
32287 07 054A 0433 G 20080206185853900 56 15 0423350+071036 39 +110 05
32287 07 054A 0433 G 20080206191057300 56 15 0435400+065827 39 +110 05
90035 05 625A 0433 G 20080206192420300 56 15 0850080+051510 39 +110 05
90023 04 776A 0433 G 20080206211256100 56 15 0315540-005305 39 +110 05
90023 04 776A 0433 G 20080206211753200 56 15 0320540-005256 39 +110 05
90054 95 586A 0433 G 20080206214320000 56 15 0438260+053235 39 +100 05
90054 95 586A 0433 G 20080206215714600 56 15 0452100+054951 39 +100 05
90067 06 585A 0433 G 20080206220310400 56 15 0749030+182755 39 +110 05
90067 06 585A 0433 G 20080206220538800 56 15 0751310+182128 39 +110 05
90037 05 638A 0433 G 20080206221212200 56 15 1230400+123129 39 +100 05
90037 05 638A 0433 G 20080206221914300 56 15 1237310+120430 39 +100 05
Strays seen:
--------------
Cosmos 1943
19119 88 039A 0433 G 20080206184816500 56 15 0159120+072211 39 +045 05
Diamant Rocket body
02671 67 011B 0433 G 20080206185752400 56 15 0423000+071420 39 +075 05
Intelsat 904 geostationary
27380 02 007A 0433 G 20080206192420300 56 15 0850060+051947 39 +100 05
Atlas 2AS Centaur , range 4560 kms
26072 00 007B 0433 G 20080206192657400 56 15 0907310+080931 39 +060 05
Ariane 5 rocket body range 13700 kms, steady
28904 05 046C 0433 G 20080206192914400 56 15 0904350+100931 39 +080 05
Inmarsat 4F1 geostationary
28628 05 009A 0433 G 20080206200249700 56 15 0945350+045559 39 +090 05
Intelsat 906 geostationary
27513 02 041A 0433 G 20080206200249700 56 15 0946440+051726 39 +105 05
Inmarsat 3F1 geostationary
23839 96 020A 0433 G 20080206200249700 56 15 0948110+052504 39 +110 05
SL-12 rocket body range 19570 kms
26090 00 011B 0433 G 20080206202826000 56 15 0804420+133456 39 +095 05
Raduga 1-4 geostationary , variable
25642 99 010A 0433 G 20080206202946600 56 15 0802180+111309 39 +115 05
Ariane 44L Debri, range 28000 kms
27402 02 015D 0433 G 20080206222317000 56 15 1234030+062631 39 +095 05
27402 02 015D 0433 G 20080206223051700 56 15 1240180+061905 39 +095 05
Notes:
--------
(1) Main purpose of session was to try and get observations of the
geostationary satellites that had relatively old orbital elements.
(2) Not found : #90042,#90055 and #90029 despite a grid search so either
off position or too faint . However I see Peter Wakelin got it last night
somewhat west of predicted position so thats solved..
(3) This morning I purchased a second hand lens and despite getting the
price reduced by 25% it still cost an arm and a leg - fortunately I
sit when I track! The lens is a NIKON ED AF NIKKOR 80-200mm 1:2.8.
It contains 18 elements so should give good results. Unlike some
telephoto lenses it works at f/2.8 through the entire focal length
range. I have still to machine an adapter for my ccd camera so it
will still be a few days before its in operation. The main reason
for the purchase is that the effective aperture of my camera now
increases from 57 to 80 mm which should get me another magnitude
or so...
Cheers
Greg
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