Geosat flare season observations

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Mon Sep 03 2007 - 07:02:20 EDT

  • Next message: Greg Roberts: "Optical 02 September 2007"

    Observations 02 Sept 2007:
    ----------------------------------
    
    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,integrating for 128 frames 
    which is equivalent to an exposure of 2.56 seconds per image. 
    
    Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude  33.94058 deg S,
    Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
    
    Conditions reasonably good after weeks of clouds, some cloud
    drifting by occassionally.
    
    Geostationary flare season: 
    -------------------------------
    Times in UT as hr:min:sec and are times of shadow entry
    (Common name satellite , international designation,catalog number)
    
    Insat 3B      00016B 26108 18:14:00 Note 1
    Express AM2   05010A 28629 18:26:18
    Thaicom5      06020B 29163 18:32:12 Note 2
    LM1           99053A 25924 18:45:49
    Insat 3C      02002A 27298 18:50:56 Note 3, mag +8.1
    Intelsat 4    95040A 23636 18:58:30 Note 4, mag +6.5
    Eutelsat W5   02051A 27554 19:03:37 Note 5
    Intelsat 7    98052A 25473 19:11:31 Note 6
    Intelsat 704  95001A 23461 19:22:43
    Inmarsat 3F1  96020A 23839 19:30:48 mag +6.5
    Intelsat 906  02041A 27513 19:30:34 Note 7
    Intelsat 902  01039A 26900 19:38:48
    Intelsat 904  02007A 27380 19:46:45 Note 8
    Unknown       07245G 91119 19:47:46 
    NS703         94064A 23305 19:56:36 Note 9
    Insat 3E      03043E 27951 20:06:20
    Intelsat 702  94034A 23124 20:08:01 mag +5.5
    Express AM22  03060A 28134 20:15:45
    Intelsat 706  95023A 23571 20:26:00
    Yamal 202     03053A 28089 20:31:57 Note 10
    Syracuse 3A   05041B 28885 20:38:49
    Intelsat 12   00068A 26590 20:47:12
    Thuraya 2     03026A 27825 -------- Note 11
    Turksat 2A    01002A 26666 20:58:07
    Turksat 1C    96040B 23949 20:58:08
    Nigcomsat1    07018A 31395 20:59:27
    Express AM1   04043A 28463 21:06:50
    Hellas-Sat2   03020A 27811 21:10:42
    Anatolia 1    96006A 23779 21:13:31 Note 12
    Milstar 5CnR  02001B 27169 21:25:25 Note 13
    Eutelsat W4   00028A 26369 21:21:49
    Sesat         00019A 26243 21:22:26 Note 14
    Intelsat 802  97031A 24846 21:34:26 Note 15
    Arabsat 2B    96063A 24652 21:44:40
    XTAT-Eur      05005A 28542 21:50:04
    Eurobird      01011A 26719 21:53:55
    Astra 2B      00054A 26494 21:55:58 Note 16          
    Intelsat 5    97046A 24916 22:04:19
    Arabsat 4B    06051A 29526 22:04:50
    Arabsat 3A    99009A 25638 -------- Note 14  
    Hotbird 5     98057A 25495 22:04:08 Note 14
    Inmarsat 3F5  98006B 25153 22:06:12 Note 14
    
    Notes:
    ---------
    
    Note 01:Three Insat satellites -Insat 2E too faint to time
            Insat 4A was brightest but faded before shadow entry
            Insat 3B brightened before shadow entry
    Note 02:No sign of Thaicom 2 
    Note 03:Three satellites together, Insat 3C,GSAT3 and
            Kalpana.Others too faint for shadow entry timing
    Note 04:Unknown in field identified as 90038/UFO-11/96117
    Note 05:Time a bit uncertain-cloud drifting by
    Note 06:Intelsat 10 also seen but too faint to time
    Note 07:Time a little uncertain-faint. Inmarsat 4F1 (05009A,
            28628) also in field, did not do shadow entry
    Note 08:Bright unknown next to Intelsat 904, Reported
            as object 91119
    Note 09:Bonum 1 not seen
    Note 10:No sign of GSAT 2
    Note 11:Bit outside 0 degrees inclination-no shadow entry seen
    Note 12:Unsuitable for shadow entry time as slow flashing.Time
            is last flash seen
    Note 13:Object is Milstar 5 centaur rocket, some variation in
            brightness so shadow entry time uncertain
    Note 14:Shadow entry time uncertain as too faint
    Note 15:SpaceTrack has Ebird close to Intelsat 802.Only one
            object seen but SpaceTrack positions are both somewhat 
            offwith Intelsat 802 being closest to observed position.
            Some problems with overhead electric cables attenuating 
            light field of view
    Note 16:Other Astra satellites- Astra 2A and Astra 2D too faint 
            for shadow entry timing
    
            
    General:
    ----------
    Ideally need to use a larger instrument as time of satellite 
    shadow entry is when last suspected seen- around magnitude +12
    and difficult to determine exact time. Next time (if it clears
    again!-) Ill probably try the 6 inch f/2.7 reflector as this
    provides another 3-4 magnitudes gain.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
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