Observations 08 Oct 2009
---------------------------------
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)~100mm 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 3.3 x 2.6 degrees and showing about mag +11
stars in "real time". Used as a finder for the 4 inch refractor.
Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
(2)Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera without filters.
using integration times of 5 sec min to 25 seconds maximum
depending on brightness of sky in particular area.No image
processing done, but some done automatically in the APEX reduction
software
Used with 4 inch SKYWATCHER refractor- model 1025 - fitted with home
made focal reducur to give an f/2.56 system. Image scale is 6.56 arc
sec/pixel and field of view 84.8 x 63.2 arc minutes. This telescope
will replace the 6 inch reflector used previously as image quality is
better, has a larger field of view, less surface area so less prone to
wind shake, and in addition is at least as sensitive, if not superior
to the 6 inch reflector. Shows 15th magnitude stars in real time with
reasonably good conditions.
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:
=====================
25725 99 023B 0433 G 20091008181250300 56 15 1941365+101001 39 +050 05
25725 99 023B 0433 G 20091008181511300 56 15 2006273+124657 39 +065 05
25725 99 023B 0433 G 20091008181753000 56 15 2033460+154503 39 +045 05
23893 96 029A 0433 G 20091008183238100 56 15 1830051-434819 39 +095 05
23893 96 029A 0433 G 20091008183506600 56 15 1923250-330937 39 +090 05
23893 96 029A 0433 G 20091008183718200 56 15 1957195-232559 39 +089 05
90070 06 928A 0433 G 20091008210415800 56 15 2030474+064704 39 +075 05
90070 06 928A 0433 G 20091008210614200 56 15 2104042+023109 39 +070 05
90070 06 928A 0433 G 20091008210759500 56 15 2132277-010541 39 +070 05
90070 06 928A 0433 G 20091008210942800 56 15 2159087-042133 39 +069 05
20641 90 050A 0433 G 20091008180022000 56 15 1743248+343015 39 +130 05
20641 90 050A 0433 G 20091008180045000 56 15 1745299+350452 39 +130 05
20641 90 050A 0433 G 20091008180126000 56 15 1749142+360515 39 +130 05
20641 90 050A 0433 G 20091008180146000 56 15 1751035+363454 39 +130 05
20641 90 050A 0433 G 20091008180209000 56 15 1753047+370753 39 +130 05
Strays seen:
==============
SL-24 Deb steady - rather birght for a piece of debri
31700 07 026C 0433 G 20091008172455200 56 15 2147170+032248 39 +030 05
IRAS variable
13777 83 004A 0433 G 20091008174440200 56 15 1720560+332518 39 +065 05
SL-14 R/B steady
10096 77 055B 0433 G 20091008174517200 56 15 1731580+340616 39 +050 05
COSMOS 2278 steady
23087 94 023A 0433 G 20091008174846000 56 15 1732203+341424 39 +060 05
GLOBALSTAR M037 steady
25652 99 012D 0433 G 20091008191247800 56 15 2205140-062122 39 +045 05
DELTA 1 R/B(1)
10856 78 044B 0433 G 20091008203149800 56 15 2017210-032924 39 +075 05
SL-6 R/B(2) range 14320 kms
14191 83 070D 0433 G 20091008210759500 56 15 2127069-010326 39 +035 05
ATLAS 2AS CENTAUR range 19350 kms steady
28253 04 017B 0433 G 20091008203507300 56 15 2021280-030017 39 +090 05
ATLAS CENTAUR range 11110 kms, variable- some small flashes
12445 80 098B 0433 G 20091008203507300 56 15 2022270-005759 39 +080 05
Notes:
---------
(1) All above observed with the video system, except for #20641 which
was too faint and was photographed with the 4 inch refractor/CCD
camera which meant timing accuracy is only about plus/minus 1 sec
or so. Elevation of satellite was 10.5 degrees through gap in local
buildings.
Cheers
Greg
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