Optical 01 Feb 2009

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Mon Feb 02 2009 - 13:18:27 UTC

  • Next message: Peter Wakelin: "SATOBS 2009 February 01"

    Observations 01 Feb 2009-all
    ---------------------------------------
    
    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) 145mm focal length f/2.5 lens fitted to 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.
    Image integrated for 2.56 seconds but exposure depends on sky background
    brightness. Field of view 2.5 x 1.9 degrees and showing about mag +12
    stars in "real time". Used as a finder for the 6 inch reflector.
    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.
    Used with 6 inch f/5 CELESTRON reflector modified to f/2.7 with home
    made corrector lens.Field of view 55 by 40 arc minutes and showing
    15th magnitude stars in real time.
    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
    
    For CLASSFD.TLE:
    -------------------------
    
    29242 06 024C   0433 F 20090201183552000 56 15 0347375+045103 39  +115 05
    29242 06 024C   0433 F 20090201184624000 56 15 0358372+045731 39  +120 05
    91141 09 523A   0433 F 20090201190849000 56 15 0842052+051156 39  +150 05
    91141 09 523A   0433 F 20090201191436000 56 15 0847548+051143 39  +150 05
    91141 09 523A   0433 F 20090201191926000 56 15 0852466+051136 39  +150 05
    29240 06 024A   0433 F 20090201192108000 56 15 0803501+040203 39  +115 05
    29240 06 024A   0433 F 20090201192316000 56 15 0805591+040047 39  +115 05
    29240 06 024A   0433 F 20090201192606000 56 15 0808506+035909 39  +115 05
    96084 96 584A   0433 F 20090201200843000 56 15 0721544+171029 39  +125 05
    96084 96 584A   0433 F 20090201201340000 56 15 0726532+171729 39  +125 05
    96093 96 593A   0433 F 20090201202900000 56 15 0536238+154137 39  +120 05
    96093 96 593A   0433 F 20090201203315000 56 15 0540406+153513 39  +120 05
    96098 96 598A   0433 F 20090201203834000 56 15 0530597+213258 39  +140 05
    96098 96 598A   0433 F 20090201204415000 56 15 0536553+213207 39  +140 05
    96126 96 626A   0433 F 20090201204618000 56 15 0724589+112419 39  +120 05
    96126 96 626A   0433 F 20090201204918000 56 15 0727565+112908 39  +120 05
    96047 96 547A   0433 F 20090201205125000 56 15 0826553+230026 39  +120 05
    96047 96 547A   0433 F 20090201205452000 56 15 0830340+225749 39  +120 05
    28500 04 050A   0433 F 20090201215933000 56 15 0946494+043419 39  +120 05
    28500 04 050A   0433 F 20090201220238000 56 15 0955069+045721 39  +120 05
    28546 04 050B   0433 F 20090201221619000 56 15 0416554-044332 39  +110 05
    28546 04 050B   0433 F 20090201221117000 56 15 0404190-044031 39  +110 05
    90082 08 731A   0433 F 20090201211604300 56 15 0155033-140810 39  +075 05
    90082 08 731A   0433 F 20090201211647500 56 15 0200558-125911 39  +075 05
    90082 08 731A   0433 F 20090201211821500 56 15 0212414-103259 39  +075 05
    90082 08 731A   0433 F 20090201211933000 56 15 0220549-084532 39  +075 05
    
    Strays seen
    ----------------
    INTELSAT 704 geostationary
    23461 95 001A   0433 F 20090201190849000 56 15 0843478+051238 39  +095 05
    INSAT 1B geostationary drifter
    14318 83 089B   0433 F 20090201215345000 56 15 0800384+194337 39  +115 05
    SL-3 R/B
    11289 79 021B   0433 F 20090201191552600 56 15 0848177+051702 39  +035 05
    BREEZE M Debri-tank. Range 8450 kms variable
    33279 08 039B   0433 F 20090201193212900 56 15 0217110-503928 39  +070 05
    
    Notes:
    --------
    
    (1) #96084 slight variability
    
    (2) #96093 weak flashes, period less than 20 seconds
    
    (3) #96098 - fairly difficult, slow variable not visible all the time
    
    (4) #96126 slight variability
    
    (5) #96047 is MAGNUM-1 rocket, Catalog number #15545 85010D- easy object
    
    (6) #28500 DEL4DEMO irregular flashing to about mag +8
    
    (7) #28546 DEM4DEMO rocket - slow variable
    
    
    Cheers
    Greg 
    
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