Observations 28 OCT 2004:
---------------------------------
Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System), 1004x low
light level CCD surveillance camera (0.003 lux) with 145mm focal
length f/2.5 lens with focal length reducer, field of view
1.89 x 1.43 degrees.
Conditions CHANGING. Initially good, then full moon came up,
followed by cirrus then finally cirrus + cloud which forced me to
stop.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
20344 89 061D 0433 G 20041028181228700 17 15 1812197-195557 39 S+045 05
20344 89 061D 0433 G 20041028181346300 17 15 1853030-515858 39 S+049 05
20344 89 061D 0433 G 20041028181444800 17 15 2016207-724828 39 S+060 05
90005 99 804A 0433 G 20041028183745000 17 15 0017071+043208 39 S+084 05
18009 87 043E 0433 B 20041028185015800 17 15 2333590+143203 39 S+083 05
18009 87 043E 0433 B 20041028185046100 17 15 2346261+101046 39 S+079 05
18009 87 043E 0433 B 20041028185232000 17 15 0037311-071526 39 S+083 05
25489 98 055A 0433 T 20041028190342500 17 15 0322275-410643 39 I+075 05
25489 98 055A 0433 T 20041028190358900 17 15 0307489-355629 39 I+075 05
08884 76 038J 0433 T 20041028190513100 17 15 0347187-250538 39 S+080 05
08884 76 038J 0433 T 20041028190530500 17 15 0354380-262403 39 S+083 05
08884 76 038J 0433 T 20041028190546900 17 15 0401240-273256 39 S+085 05
26473 00 047A 0433 T 20041028192502100 17 15 1731481-342255 39 S+050 05
26473 00 047A 0433 T 20041028192514500 17 15 1743352-323946 39 S+050 05
26473 00 047A 0433 T 20041028192559700 17 15 1828002-243111 39 S+050 05
90025 04 800A 0433 T 20041028194426300 17 15 1906499-151905 39 R+070 05
90025 04 800A 0433 T 20041028194513900 17 15 1929183-114320 39 R+071 05
90025 04 800A 0433 T 20041028194622100 17 15 1957248-064153 39 R+077 05
90025 04 800A 0433 T 20041028194711200 17 15 2015058-031745 39 R+079 05
90025 04 800A 0433 T 20041028194759400 17 15 2030268-001053 39 R+082 05
90025 04 800A 0433 T 20041028194857800 17 15 2046528+031638 39 R+084 05
Report:
~~~~~~~~~
(1) Noss 8(E) was observed through thick cirrus. Whilst I could see the
satellite background reference stars were scarce so had to rely on
image scale/orientation to be stable and only use one reference star
to locate image field in the program GUIDE.
(2) Atex (98055A) was invisible except for two flashes from which the
positions were determined.
(3) Noss 1(J) was difficult, again with very few reference stars, so same
situation as item (1) above.
(4) Satellite 90025 was briefly tracked until it became too faint to see
through the cirrus. Initially it was quite bright and appeared to have
a short period small amplitude modulation of its magnitude- as if the
object was rotating or spinning about a fixed axis.
(5) As a result of the poor conditions I was forced to stop tracking
satellites but was able to carry out pointing tests which now seem to
indicate the mount is pointing accurately, except at very high
elevations (>80 degrees). Earlier in the day I adjusted the altazimuth
platform with a small tilt towards the east and this seems to have
solved the problem I had previously.
Cheers
Greg
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