Observations 13 Mar 2011 -------------------------------------- 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) 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 12.55mm focal length f/1.8 lens,integrating for 128 fields which is equivalent to a max exposure of 2.56 seconds maximum per image, but dependent on sky brightness. Field of view 26.5 x 21.4 degrees. Individual frames are video time stamped with GPS derived signal. Images processed and measured manually. Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude -33.94058 deg, Elevation 10 metres-situated in Pinelands (Cape Town),South Africa FOR CLASSIFIED.TLE: ----------------------------- 37375 11 010A 0433 P 20110313175120300 56 15 0735550+283407 39 +040 05 37375 11 010A 0433 P 20110313175156600 56 15 0858180+180514 39 +040 05 37375 11 010A 0433 P 20110313175206000 56 15 0918330+145809 39 +040 05 NOTES: ------------- (1) Start of evening visibility for me of OTV-2. This pass was in very bright twilight with much thick cloud around. I missed it in real time and only noticed it when I played back the DVD recording several hours later - dont know how I missed it but as I did have quite a large time uncertainty between the different element sets I probably wasnt concentrating at the critical time . The satellite was running approx 42 seconds early on elset 70411 so it would appear the satellite has not done any orbit changes since last observed. I have a near zenith pass tonight so, provided clear, should have a good track. Due to the very bright twilight sky I had few stars for image orientation. The first point is okay as next to a bright star but the other two may have a progressively increasing deviation from the orbit track due to 1-2 degree possible tilt error in image orientation,but I think its okay. Cheers Greg _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
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