Observations 25 Oct 2005:
----------------------------
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 145mm focal length f/2.5 lens.
Due to the operator not being "totally with it" it seems I had one of
the settings on the MINTRON incorrect with the result that images were
not integrating. The effect of this was to dramatically reduce the
sensitivity of the camera.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
20641 90 050A 0433 E 20050816172309400 56 15 1627368-024118 39 +070 05
20641 90 050A 0433 E 20050816172513600 56 15 1708509-172936 39 +065 05
20641 90 050A 0433 E 20050816172725400 56 15 1821313-362644 39 +050 05
20641 90 050A 0433 E 20050816172800000 56 15 1848145-410712 39 +050 05
21775 91 076A 0433 E 20050816204819500 56 15 1806299+242913 39 +090 05
21775 91 076A 0433 E 20050816205118800 56 15 1818588+183358 39 +085 05
21775 91 076A 0433 E 20050816205509100 56 15 1837332+090018 39 +080 05
25489 98 055A 0433 G 20051025185836900 56 15 1606593-431227 39
25489 98 055A 0433 G 20051025185846900 56 15 1558210-444540 39
25489 98 055A 0433 G 20051025185855900 56 15 1550138-460436 39
20344 89 061D 0433 G 20051025193339900 56 15 0436262-600623 39
20344 89 061D 0433 G 20051025193443900 56 15 0444225-525703 39
20344 89 061D 0433 G 20051025193546600 56 15 0451186-454606 39
25744 99 028A 0433 G 20051025202259600 56 15 0226133-415809 39
25744 99 028A 0433 G 20051025202414800 56 15 0302021-471120 39
25744 99 028A 0433 G 20051025202537200 56 15 0345594-513120 39
19460 88 078A 0433 G 20051025210647200 56 15 1832364-334450 39 +061 05
19460 88 078A 0433 G 20051025210659800 56 15 1824318-354943 39 +062 05
19460 88 078A 0433 G 20051025210721100 56 15 1810094-390731 39 +060 05
New launch object NRO-20?
-------------------------------------
Using Teds revised search elements dated 20 October, I did a search for
the new object and the following was seen - I do not have any other object
predicted in the area the time so it may well be the new launch. It was
quite easy and appeared steady during the short time it was seen. It was
running a few minutes early on the estimated elements which were about 5
days old.
91041 05 298LEO 0433 G 20051025193858700 56 15 0628466-433757 39 +050 05
91041 05 298LEO 0433 G 20051025193906200 56 15 0624006-431609 39 +050 05
91041 05 298LEO 0433 G 20051025193920800 56 15 0615068-422854 39 +050 05
91041 05 298LEO 0433 G 20051025193926900 56 15 0611112-420829 39 +050 05
91041 05 298LEO 0433 G 20051025193929500 56 15 0609396-415849 39 +050 05
91041 05 298LEO 0433 G 20051025193940500 56 15 0602516-411635 39 +050 05
96072A- #24680- USA 129 was NOT seen using elements 15 days old so has it
been de-orbited?
Notes:
--------------
(1) After an enforced absence due to surgery I am now "building up steam"
again and hope to start tracking regularly soon.
(2) The main purpose of the session was to try and locate NRO-20.
(3) Still to report:
MILSTAR 3 #25724
DMSP B5D1-4 #11389
NOSS 5(D) #14144
KH9-19 #15071
Lacrosse 2 #21147
NOSS 3-2 Rk #28096
DMSP B5D2-8 #23533
Lacrosse 4 #26473
DMSP B5D1-1 #09415
ATEX #25615
DMSP F-16 #28054
USA 89r #22519
plus about a dozen of the geostationary satellites visible over my
area that appear in CLASSFD.TLE and hopefully not too far for the reduced
camera sensitivity.
(4) I plan to track tomorrow night - 27th October using a wide angle lens
so I have a better chance of seeing NRO-20 etc.
Cheers
Greg
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