Observations 19 Feb 2009-Part 2
-------------------------------------
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:
-----------------
NOSS 5A
14112 83 056A 0433 F 20090219191629900 56 15 0447487+265239 39 +060 05
14112 83 056A 0433 F 20090219191630800 56 15 0448350+270448 39 +060 05
14112 83 056A 0433 F 20090219191632700 56 15 0449549+272822 39 +060 05
Strays seen:
--------------
GLOBALSAT M043 steady
25874 99 041C 0433 F 20090219181359300 56 15 0723390+134400 39 +055 05
SL-14 R/B variable
23318 94 066B 0433 F 20090219182035100 56 15 1010462+060609 39 +045 05
IRIS 1B variable
21688 91 061A 0433 F 20090219183137900 56 15 0158334+081051 39 +060 05
CZ-2C R/B steady
31114 07 010B 0433 F 20090219193817400 56 15 0555359+072330 39 +020 05
IRIDIUM 33 variable
24946 97 051C 0433 F 20090219195919900 56 15 1641532-685537 39 +085 05
24946 97 051C 0433 F 20090219200124700 56 15 1236348-652431 39 +075 05
IRIDIUM 58 steady
25274 98 019C 0433 F 20090219200339100 56 15 1233050-662649 39 +060 05
METEOR 2-7 steady
12456 81 043A 0433 F 20090219200750000 56 15 1234488-662959 39 +055 05
ARIANE 3 R/B range 24050 kms variable
15388 84 114C 0433 F 20090219185942000 56 15 0446335+154831 39 +100 05
MAGSAT H range 23970 kms steady
25023 97 066A 0433 F 20090219205134000 56 15 0634322+075331 39 +085 05
NSTAR B geostationary variable
23781 96 007A 0433 F 20090219202619000 56 15 0521462+053121 39 +095 05
INTELSAT 904 geostationary, steady
27380 02 007A 0433 F 20090219203841000 56 15 1058527+052052 39 +090 05
INTELSAT 503 geostationary , steady
12994 81 119A 0433 F 20090219190721000 56 15 0456153+164431 39 +105 05
Notes:
------
(1) Also observed OMID but too difficult to get an accurate position due
to its optical appearance. Gave two glints within a fraction of a second
followed by a short period of invisibility and then another two glints
so appears to be regular. The time between the two sets of glints was
about 2 seconds and the second glint was about half magnitude brighter
than the first.
(2) IRIDIUM 33 observed and fortunately had IRIDIUM 58 about two minutes
behind it on almost identical pass conditions so had a comparison.
IRIDIUM 58 matched the predicted magnitude but IRIDIUM 33 was about 1.5
to 2 magnitudes fainter at its brightest. It appeared to be irregular
with it almost disappearing from view then would reappear and give a
very brief glint so the impression I got was irregular visibility with
the satellite tumbling. It would seem that it took more than a glancing
hit.
Cheers
Greg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive:
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Feb 21 2009 - 09:58:57 UTC