Observations 03 Sept 2008 -------------------------------- 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 sesnitivity 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) 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 135mm focal length f/2.8 lens,integrating for 128 frames which is equivalent to a max exposure of 2.56 seconds maximum per image. Field of view 2.7 x 2.1 degrees. Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal. (2)Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera without filters. using integration times of 20 sec min to 60 seconds maximum depending on brightness of sky in particular area.No image processing done but dark field applied. Used with 200mm focal length f/2.8 Nikkon telephoto lens, field of view 1.88 x 1.40 degrees. Can get to magnitude 13 or so in less than 20 seconds exposure. 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 S, Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa For CLASSFD.TLE: --------------------------- 20355 89 090B 0433 T 20080903171236000 56 15 2220490-084932 39 +080 05 20355 89 090B 0433 T 20080903171755000 56 15 2226366-084836 39 +080 05 20355 89 090B 0433 T 20080903172529000 56 15 2234490-084715 39 +080 05 28385 04 034B 0433 T 20080903172931400 56 15 1314148-360440 39 +080 05 28385 04 034B 0433 T 20080903173145600 56 15 1312185-451524 39 +080 05 28385 04 034B 0433 T 20080903173415000 56 15 1302295-583014 39 +080 05 23945 96 038A 0433 T 20080903173934800 56 15 1458308-122559 39 +090 05 23945 96 038A 0433 T 20080903174129800 56 15 1524426-064038 39 +093 05 23945 96 038A 0433 T 20080903180214400 56 15 1711386+220920 39 +105 05 23945 96 038A 0433 T 20080903180401900 56 15 1715439+232353 39 +105 05 27168 02 001A 0433 T 20080903194601000 56 15 2044462+030321 39 +090 05 27168 02 001A 0433 T 20080903195017000 56 15 2048505+030349 39 +090 05 96031 96 531A 0433 T 20080903194601000 56 15 2044488+032246 39 +125 05 96031 96 531A 0433 T 20080903195017000 56 15 2048419+033223 39 +125 05 90030 05 544A 0433 T 20080903200939000 56 15 1639578+004802 39 +110 05 90030 05 544A 0433 T 20080903201653000 56 15 1647210+003315 39 +110 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903184750000 56 15 1626477+353303 39 +105 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903185918100 56 15 1646258+262539 39 +090 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903190356000 56 15 1655365+212100 39 +090 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903190625600 56 15 1701000+180550 39 +085 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903190827200 56 15 1705453+150553 39 +085 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903191128500 56 15 1713337+095013 39 +080 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903191552500 56 15 1727151-001002 39 +075 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903191838200 56 15 1738142-083643 39 +075 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903192118300 56 15 1752163-190508 39 +075 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903192430100 56 15 1817391-352227 39 +075 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903192635000 56 15 1845104-480303 39 +075 05 90082 08 731A 0433 T 20080903192936700 56 15 2014160-662757 39 +070 05 Strays seen: -------------- THAICOM 5 geostationary 29163 06 020B 0433 T 20080903181637000 56 15 2249260+050504 39 +070 05 TV SAT 1 geostationary 18570 87 095A 0433 T 20080903183738000 56 15 2207532-065324 39 +120 05 SL12-R/B(2) geostationary 15141 83 066F 0433 T 20080903183738000 56 15 2206374-063603 39 +130 05 ATLAS CENTAUR rocket - lovely regular flasher! Range 10000 kms 04069 69 069B 0433 T 20080903200939000 56 15 1640244+010451 39 +085 05 Notes: ------ (1) After my part of the country had experienced one of its worst storms in over a decade I was desperate to observe so had to make do with very poor conditions - much cirrus and then high fog - at times could just make out where the crescent moon was - reckon I was loosing 2-3 magnitudes most of the time. (2) Main purpose was to observe MAGNUM 2(#20355) previously cataloged as 96136 before it disappeared out of my skies - low on eastern horizon and with a high inclination part of the orbit track gets high enough to clear local buildings. As summer approaches this observable part of the orbit arc moves into daylight. The other prime target was 90082 as a long tracking arc was needed to define the orbit better. (3) Had two lovely flashers - EGP - always a brilliant sight, and #04069 in an elliptical orbit with inclination 17 degrees. (4) If the weather clears I plan to track again tomorrow night. Cheers Greg ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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