Optical 19 Feb 2009 Part 1

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Fri Feb 20 2009 - 14:22:35 UTC

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    Observations 19 Feb 2009- Part 1
    --------------------------------------
    
    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) 145mm 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 2.5 x 1.9 degrees and showing about mag +12
    stars in "real time". Used as a finder for the 6 inch reflector.
    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.
    Used with 6 inch f/5 CELESTRON reflector modified to f/2.7 with home
    made corrector lens.Field of view 55 by 40 arc minutes and showing
    15th magnitude stars in real time.
    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:
    ----------------------
    96002 96 502A   0433 F 20090219192511000 56 15 0729145+090158 39  +125 05
    96002 96 502A   0433 F 20090219192953000 56 15 0733588+090711 39  +125 05
    96060 96 560A   0433 F 20090219215358000 56 15 0717463+243510 39  +125 05
    96060 96 560A   0433 F 20090219215710000 56 15 0720561+242529 39  +125 05
    96071 96 571A   0433 F 20090219213210000 56 15 0550136+085658 39  +155 05
    96076 96 576A   0433 F 20090219220158000 56 15 1419016-001135 39  +155 05
    96076 96 576A   0433 F 20090219220414000 56 15 1420540-001450 39  +155 05
    96076 96 576A   0433 F 20090219220511000 56 15 1421407-001604 39  +155 05
    96076 96 576A   0433 F 20090219220619000 56 15 1422390-001741 39  +155 05
    96082 96 582A   0433 F 20090219191855000 56 15 0951211+131450 39  +115 05
    96082 96 582A   0433 F 20090219192206000 56 15 0954172+130846 39  +115 05
    26575 00 065A   0433 F 20090219202619000 56 15 0520480+052055 39  +115 05
    26575 00 065A   0433 F 20090219203311000 56 15 0527420+052054 39  +115 05
    27691 03 008A   0433 F 20090219203841000 56 15 1056491+052000 39  +095 05
    27691 03 008A   0433 F 20090219204054000 56 15 1059024+052005 39  +095 05
    11397 79 053A   0433 F 20090219205843000 56 15 0548446+213414 39  +130 05
    11397 79 053A   0433 F 20090219210155000 56 15 0552006+213356 39  +130 05
    12339 81 025A   0433 F 20090219210357000 56 15 0556110+211150 39  +130 05
    12339 81 025A   0433 F 20090219210924000 56 15 0601463+211226 39  +130 05
    25336 98 029A   0433 F 20090219180550000 56 15 0714190+135834 39  +085 05
    25336 98 029A   0433 F 20090219181337000 56 15 0722094+135658 39  +085 05
    23967 96 042A   0433 F 20090219212535000 56 15 0537139+081338 39  +115 05
    23967 96 042A   0433 F 20090219212847000 56 15 0540260+081617 39  +115 05
    32288 07 054B   0433 F 20090219183403000 56 15 0945238+022045 39  +090 05
    32288 07 054B   0433 F 20090219183758000 56 15 0949145+021856 39  +100 05
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090219181742000 56 15 1006174+054757 39  +065 05
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090219182618000 56 15 1014568+054114 39  +070 05
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090219212007000 56 15 1309427+032722 39  +065 05
    33490 09 001A   0433 F 20090219212302000 56 15 1312397+032527 39  +068 05
    33491 09 001B   0433 F 20090219182900000 56 15 0152531+074658 39  +095 05
    33491 09 001B   0433 F 20090219183220000 56 15 0156125+074822 39  +105 05
    
    Notes:
    ---------
    (01) Poor conditions - transparency bad and wind gusting
    
    (02) #96060 - a correspondent has done an analysis of the 4 ESA reports
         and has identified possible candidates for some of the ESA objects
         not yet given their identity. This object is thought to be a CANYON
         satellite. Had slight variability.
    
    (03) #96071 - very difficult - only visible in one image - variable
    
    (04) #96076 - see comments #96060. This is thought to be the VORTEX-3
         transtage rocket. Rather difficult variable but elevation only 12
         degrees against a bright city lit horizon.
    
    (05) #96082 - see comments #96060. This is thought to be a CANYON stage
         rocket. Quite easy and appeared steady.
    
    (06) DSCS3-7 missing ?    DSP-F21 missing ? -- have they moved ?
    
    (07) Despite two attempts have failed to see object #96036 again. This
         is INTELSAT 3F7- maybe has long periods of invisibility ?
    
    (08) USA 202 easily the brightest geosat. Seemed to show some
         variability  but this could be due to poor seeing conditions at such
         a low elevation - continues to move slowly westward.
    
    (09) USA 202 rocket - shows some variabiity - about in reach of the USA
         again - doesnt take long to move around the world!
    
    (10) Observed IRIDIUM 33 - about 3 magnitudes fainter than predicted and
         maybe irregular variable. Still have to check the video recording.
    
    (11) Will report the video observations tomorrow which includes OMID.
    
    Cheers
    Greg
    
    
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    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 20 2009 - 14:22:43 UTC