Observations 20 June 2009
-------------------------------------
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)~135mm focal length telephoto f/2.8 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 2.6 x 2.0 degrees and showing
about mag +12 stars in "real time". Used as a finder for the 4 inch
refractor.
Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal.
(2)Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome CCD camera without filters.
using integration times of 5 sec min to 25 seconds maximum
depending on brightness of sky in particular area.No image
processing done, but some done automatically in the auto reduction
software..
Used with 4 inch SKYWATCHER refractor- model 1025 - fitted with home
made focal reducer to give an f/2.56 system. Image scale is 6.56 arc
sec/pixel and field of view 84.8 x 63.2 arc minutes. This telescope
will replace the 6 inch reflector used previously as image quality is
better, has a larger field of view, less surface area so less prone to
wind shake, and in addition is at least as sensitive, if not superior
to the 6 inch reflector. Shows 15th magnitude stars in real time with
reasonably good conditions.
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 CLASSIFIED.TLE:
-------------------------------
22787 93 056A 0433 F 20090620174930000 56 15 1345387+081439 39 +110 05
22787 93 056A 0433 F 20090620175135000 56 15 1347419+081022 39 +110 05
22787 93 056A 0433 F 20090620175412000 56 15 1350184+080604 39 +110 05
90070 06 829A 0433 F 20090620171713400 56 15 0958524+151035 39 +050 05
90070 06 829A 0433 F 20090620171838000 56 15 1227206+143947 39 +030 05
90070 06 829A 0433 F 20090620172032800 56 15 1449051+104506 39 +040 05
90070 06 829A 0433 F 20090620172410500 56 15 1631590+081422 39 +050 05
90004 99 750A 0433 F 20090620181038800 56 15 1141052-583909 39 +060 05
90004 99 750A 0433 F 20090620181312900 56 15 1253446-454225 39 +065 05
90004 99 750A 0433 F 20090620181539600 56 15 1331372-332147 39 +070 05
90004 99 750A 0433 F 20090620182038500 56 15 1412541-133251 39 +075 05
90004 99 750A 0433 F 20090620182320200 56 15 1426265-054638 39 +075 05
21775 91 076A 0433 F 20090620184652000 56 15 1632147-355817 39 +080 05
21775 91 076A 0433 F 20090620184659700 56 15 1633016-351617 39 +080 05
Strays seen:
-------------
COSMOS 778 steady
08419 75 103A 0433 F 20090620171157600 56 15 1128170-001412 39 +065 05
COSMOS 516 steady
06154 72 066A 0433 F 20090620174502800 56 15 1347495+082653 39 +043 05
Notes:
------
(1) The above were measured manually, and all except for #22787 were done
with the telephoto lens.
(2) Searched for UFO-F02 (#22787) and pretty sure I found it as nothing
else predicted in the area. About 6 degrees away from predicted
position and further west.
The following were automatically processed by APEX-II and secured with
the 4 inch refractor.
FOR CLASSFD.TLE:
-----------------------------
06691 73 040A 0433 F 20090620170843500 16 15 1126218+000553 28 +129 05
06691 73 040A 0433 F 20090620171029500 16 15 1128046+000002 28 +132 03
06691 73 040A 0433 F 20090620171240500 16 15 1130137-000803 57 +130 04
28500 04 050A 0433 F 20090620173615500 16 15 1459517+185004 38 +131 05
28500 04 050A 0433 F 20090620174053500 16 15 1506025+185508 78 +133 10
28500 04 050A 0433 F 20090620174142500 16 15 1507052+185453 29 +126 29
28546 04 050B 0433 F 20090620172831500 16 15 1600394+181920 77 +122 06
28546 04 050B 0433 F 20090620172953500 16 15 1602068+182007 18 +124 07
28546 04 050B 0433 F 20090620173059500 16 15 1603163+182043 38
33490 09 001A 0433 F 20090620164840000 16 15 1359237+030939 18 +089 00
33490 09 001A 0433 F 20090620165032000 16 15 1401150+030832 28 +094 01
33490 09 001A 0433 F 20090620165201000 16 15 1402442+030740 28 +089 00
Strays seen:
----------------
COSMOS 475
05846 72 009A 0433 E 20090620162306500 16 15 1721135-331255 38
05846 72 009A 0433 E 20090620162309500 16 25 1723533-333681 49
INTERCOSMOS 25
21819 91 086A 0433 E 20090620162713500 16 15 1725294-330527 19 +069 03
21819 91 086A 0433 E 20090620162720500 16 15 1728315-335806 98 +076 03
BREEZE M DEBRI
34712 09 016C 0433 E 20090620162720500 16 15 1725056-332611 38 +097 01
34712 09 016C 0433 E 20090620162750500 16 15 1726234-333140 68 +095 07
Notes:
-------
(1) #28500 (Del4Dem) rather difficult due to irregular long period
variation, low elevation and bright city lights.
(2) Most of the observing session was troubled by clouds which eventually
forced me to shut down.
Correction:
-------------
In report for 17 June I stated that MERCURY 1 (#23223) was aka as 90016.
This is incorrect - MERCURY 1 was 90054. As best my lousy memory can recall
90054 is not a frequent mover so the "mad driver" comment refers to 90016
which is MERCURY-2.
Cheers
Greg
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