Observations 15 Feb 2009 - Part1
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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:
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90005 99 804A 0433 F 20090215212515000 56 15 0626574+142616 39 +105 05
90005 99 804A 0433 F 20090215212832000 56 15 0629579+142546 39 +105 05
90073 07 569A 0433 F 20090215213208000 56 15 0505529+164800 39 +120 05
90073 07 569A 0433 F 20090215213443000 56 15 0509253+164343 39 +115 05
96002 96 502A 0433 F 20090215213709000 56 15 0855311+102625 39 +120 05
96002 96 502A 0433 F 20090215213943000 56 15 0858085+102819 39 +120 05
96071 96 571A 0433 F 20090215203822000 56 15 0530069+081447 39 +140 05
96071 96 571A 0433 F 20090215204115000 56 15 0532582+082033 39 +155 05
96127 96 627A 0433 F 20090215200524000 56 15 0830158+130807 39 +130 05
96127 96 627A 0433 F 20090215200751000 56 15 0832432+131043 39 +135 05
05204 71 039A 0433 F 20090215190708000 56 15 0933365+060923 39 +110 05
05204 71 039A 0433 F 20090215191024000 56 15 0936497+060008 39 +110 05
05851 72 010A 0433 F 20090215191144000 56 15 1015459+061803 39 +110 05
05851 72 010A 0433 F 20090215191501000 56 15 1018593+060717 39 +110 05
32287 07 054A 0433 F 20090215190057000 56 15 0623415+045832 39 +110 05
32287 07 054A 0433 F 20090215190454000 56 15 0627387+045516 39 +110 05
15543 85 010B 0433 F 20090215211418000 56 15 1211233+130229 39 +085 05
15543 85 010B 0433 F 20090215211814000 56 15 1215133+124656 39 +085 05
23223 94 054A 0433 F 20090215210922000 56 15 0442241+060720 39 +110 05
23223 94 054A 0433 F 20090215211216000 56 15 0445149+061147 39 +110 05
23855 96 026A 0433 F 20090215210034000 56 15 0715135+140736 39 +095 05
23855 96 026A 0433 F 20090215210429000 56 15 0719166+140702 39 +095 05
22988 94 009A 0433 F 20090215205509000 56 15 0337250-010403 39 +105 05
22988 94 009A 0433 F 20090215205830000 56 15 0340473-010237 39 +105 05
27168 02 001A 0433 F 20090215204906000 56 15 0838516+081336 39 +075 05
27168 02 001A 0433 F 20090215205120000 56 15 0841062+081347 39 +075 05
27712 03 012B 0433 F 20090215204441000 56 15 0719336+074729 39 +095 05
27712 03 012B 0433 F 20090215204713000 56 15 0722058+074741 39 +095 05
26635 00 080A 0433 F 20090215203203000 56 15 0519571+071437 39 +110 05
26635 00 080A 0433 F 20090215203444000 56 15 0522379+071615 39 +110 05
22787 93 056A 0433 F 20090215202833000 56 15 0810318+121144 39 +110 05
22787 93 056A 0433 F 20090215203044000 56 15 0812439+121248 39 +110 05
25967 99 063A 0433 F 20090215191721000 56 15 1016082+071539 39 +105 05
25967 99 063A 0433 F 20090215192037000 56 15 1019250+071505 39 +105 05
28117 03 057A 0433 F 20090215192300000 56 15 1015596+055139 39 +105 05
28117 03 057A 0433 F 20090215192424000 56 15 1018234+055023 39 +105 05
28117 03 057A 0433 F 20090215192548000 56 15 1019491+054933 39 +105 05
14675 84 009A 0433 F 20090215201058000 56 15 0529119+131716 39 +105 05
14675 84 009A 0433 F 20090215201325000 56 15 0531116+131721 39 +105 05
19976 89 035A 0433 F 20090215195954000 56 15 0813189+112656 39 +100 05
19976 89 035A 0433 F 20090215200136000 56 15 0814560+112610 39 +100 05
33491 09 001B 0433 F 20090215185236000 56 15 0634481+080221 39 +100 05
33491 09 001B 0433 F 20090215185633000 56 15 0638303+080032 39 +100 05
Unknown object:
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91142 09 543A 0433 F 20090215184025000 56 15 1021332+053424 39 +060 05
91142 09 543A 0433 F 20090215184532000 56 15 1026425+053019 39 +060 05
91142 09 543A 0433 F 20090215184941000 56 15 1030532+052706 39 +060 05
91142 09 543A 0433 F 20090215211949000 56 15 1301511+033142 39 +060 05
91142 09 543A 0433 F 20090215212309000 56 15 1305121+032913 39 +060 05
Notes:
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(1) Not the best tracking conditions. Frequent gusts of wind caused
vibration in the optical systems and prevented long exposures. In
addition sky transparency was very poor - could just see the Orion
nebula with the naked eye
(2) The unknown object is very slowly drifting westwards - very easy and
bright.
(3) Had a little difficulty finding VORTEX 6 - has it done a slight orbit
change ?
(4) USA202 rocket back again in eastern sky after having completed its
first trip around the Clarke belt.
(5) #96071 rather difficult - the second position is a bit uncertain.
(6) #96002 quite easy - first time seen by amateurs ?
(7) #96127 quite easy - first time seen by amateurs ?
(8) I have still to check the DVD video recording to see if anything
worthwile seen.
Cheers
Greg
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