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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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