OTV-2 14 March 2011

grr@telkomsa.net

Observations 14 Mar 2011
--------------------------------

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.

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 25mm focal length f/1.4 lens,integrating for 128 fields
which is equivalent to a max exposure of 2.56 seconds maximum
per image, but dependent on sky brightness. Field of view
14.4 x 10.8 degrees.
Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
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 CLASSFD.TLE:
----------------------- 
37375 11 010A   0433 F 20110314180902900 56 15 0420370-030233 39  +030 05
37375 11 010A   0433 F 20110314180910100 56 15 0435230-061111 39  +030 05
37375 11 010A   0433 F 20110314180917300 56 15 0435410-051258 39  +030 05
37375 11 010A   0433 F 20110314180923800 56 15 0511160-134527 39  +030 05
37375 11 010A   0433 F 20110314180935000 56 15 0548020-204819 39  +030 05
37375 11 010A   0433 F 20110314180943900 56 15 0624360-262852 39  +030 05

Notes:
-----------
(1) Despite heavy cirrus was a piece of cake. Last position may be a
    little out (not much) as mount unable to keep up with the satellite
    as it went through the zenith. Unable to catch up with it again.

(2) Satellite running a few seconds late.

Cheers
Greg

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