Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
what imaging equipment do you use to do this!!
I have always said that I don't use anything special. I have always been amazed that nobody else in the world has ever tried this before.
I use several pieces of retail equipment:
11-inch NexStar 11 GPS Goto Computerized Scope;
8-inch NexStar 8iSE Goto Computerized Scope;
SBIG ST-9XE CCD Camera
The camera mentioned above has taken all the images for virtually all of the 2,409 satellites. Only a few, (the ISS and space shuttles Endeavor and Atlantis) have been captured with a Nikon CoolPix 4500, mainly because they were too bright for a sensitive CCD camera.
My CCD camera has captured approximately 100,000 images since January 1, 2007, when my project began. It is still going strong. It has operated in temperatures as low as minus 40C and as high as 40C.
Anyone with an 11-inch (or even 14-inch scope) and CCD camera can do what I have done, but it does take a huge amount of time and patience. I am essentially proving that private satellite tracking is an industry of the future and can be done with very inexpensive equipment.
The recent satellite collision has also proven that satellite companies need to track inactive satellites as well in order to produce better satellite conjunction models to prevent collisions.
This is one method of doing that. You could call it a demonstration.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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CASTOR has detected another 122 new satellites in April. Since the beginning of the IYA, it has detected 356 new satellites, over 1/3 of the 1,000 it needs for the IYA goal.
So far, May has been disappointing. Tonight looks no better. Still stuck at the total of 2,409. Time to do some routine maintenence.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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DrBuck
sage
Reged: 12/10/08
Posts: 269
Loc: Susanville, No. Calif.
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Wow--------congratulations. I had no idea there were that many up there. Hope you have clear skys tonite 
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DrBuck
Roll off Roof Observatory,
CGE on concrete and steel pier
Takahashi FS 152 Fluorite apo refractor
Televue 85MM Apochromatic refractor
12 inch LX 200 gps smt uhtc
Nikon D-90 with 18-200mm AF VR lens
Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/697650grr/?saved=1
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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Unfortunately, my skies will not be clear tonight. I made sure I was above the quota for April just in case May turned out to be rotten. So far, I have been right. The entire first week of May was terrible.
I do not know how many more satellites I will be able to see until I reach the "brick wall", but that's what this project has been created to find out.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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After a dismal start of May, I finally have the opportunity to detect new satellites tonight. I am expecting about 20 more new satellites tonight and the same tomorrow.
Right now, I have only 91 satellites to go before the magic milestone number of 2,500 arrives!
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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ido
sage
Reged: 06/29/06
Posts: 366
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Very nice !
We are also capturing man made satellites with our remote Internet telescope. The last image we took was of the HOT BIRD array.
http://bareket-astro.com/movies/Satellites%20Hot%20Bird%209,8%20&%206.html
We opened the scope for the public, at the IYA09 100HRA projects, a few weeks ago. (more info available at our web site)
Keep up the great work.
Ido.
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
The last image we took was of the HOT BIRD array.
I assume that is Hot Birds 6, 8 and 9? From here in Brockville, they are (always) several degrees below my eastern horizon. I did detect EutelSat's Hot Bird 1 in 2007, however.
One day, I will travel to the other side of the world to finish my survey of the GEO objects.
Thanks for the encouragement!
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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CASTOR has detected another 19 geosynchronous satellites on May 11th, bringing its total to 2,427 satellites since January 1, 2007 and 374 satellites since the beginning of the IYA.
I am expecting another 20 MEO satellites (or so) tonight. I also plan to re-observe the tumbling satellite Molniya 3-39, which is undergoing orbit decay.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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ido
sage
Reged: 06/29/06
Posts: 366
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What software are you using in order to predict the satellite's position and in order to rack it ?
Send us an email (we have it on our web site) if you have a need to capture satellites from the "other side" of the globe. I'll be delighted to assist.
Thanks,
Ido.
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http://bareket-astro.com/en.htm
Bareket observatory, Israel.
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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I currently use Software Bisque's TheSky Version 5 to propagate the orbit elements to locate the satellites. I find that it is the most reliable of all, especially for satellites.
Thanks for your generous offer! Once I complete my survey of the satellites visible from the northern hemisphere, I might give you a ring.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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On the night of May 12th, I picked up another 28 MEO satellites to bring my total to 2,455. This number is nearly 500 objects over the original goal in 2007 for my Sputnik 50th Anniversary celebration (1,957). I had no idea that so many satellites could be detected with my equipment.
I am expecting to reach the milestone number of 2,500 unique satellites by next week. The weather for the beginning of next week looks favorable (so far). I am nearly half way through my goal for the celebration of the IYA (1,000 satellites). Since January 1, 2009, I have detected 402 satellites.
There still seems to be no end in sight to the satellites that I can detect. I know there is a limit somewhere, but so far I cannot see it approaching.
On May 11th, CASTOR was able to detect the final Telesat satellite for the catalogue (Anik A3). CASTOR has now detected and catalogued all of Telesat's property since it began with Anik A1 in 1972. Anik A3 is CSC #2410.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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With another 24 satellites detected last night, CASTOR is only 22 satellites away from hitting the 2,500 satellite milestone mark!
CASTOR has detected a total of 425 satellites in the IYA year! This is nearly half way from the 1,000 goal for this year.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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With another 15 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites last night, I have a mere 7 satellites remaining until I hit the 2,500 mark.
While observing last night, I saw an object suddenly appear about 3 degrees to the north and east of Spica. It originally had a magnitude of about 3 or 4. I could see it moving slightly which indicated a satellite for sure. By the time I slewed the wide field CCD camera to the position of the object, it had seemingly disappeared. I took several images anyway. I managed to find the object, which appeared quite bright in the CCD field.
After identifying the satellite the next day, I found that it was the American MilStar 3 satellite; not a new object. However, I added it to my satellite archives.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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I am proud to say that I finally breached the 2,500 satellite mark as of May 20th!!! The current number that I have detected since January 1, 2007 now stands at exactly 2,525 satellites.
Since the beginning of the IYA, I have detected 472 satellites. Almost half way to the 1,000 goal!
There does not seem to be any signs of hitting the "brick wall" of detection at the present time.
However, I am beginning to make lists of those specific satellite types that I have NOT detected yet.
I expect to hit the 500 mark (for the IYA year) by the end of this month. With only 28 to go, this seems simple!
I am expecting to detect the remaining 528 satellites by the December 31, 2009 deadline.
I am updating my CASTOR Catalogue with the satellites that I have seen over the past several days. You can view the catalogue at www.castor2.ca/13_Catalogue
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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On May 25th, CASTOR detected another 11 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to bring its total catalogue number to 2,536 unique satellites.
Since the beginning of the IYA, it has detected 483 satellites; only 17 under the half way point for this year!
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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CASTOR has detected an additional 130 satellites in May. Many of these are in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Three new satellites were detected on May 31st, bringing the new total to 2,539 satellites since January 1, 2007.
The three new LEO satellites detected on May 31st were detected accidentally while attempting to detect other satellites. These satellites just happened to drift into the CASTOR Wide Field camera's field. This is phenominal, given that the Wide Field camera has a field of view of 11.5 degrees (just over a fist at arm's length). This also shows that CASTOR has many more satellites to detect before it has detected them all.
Since the IYA began, CASTOR has detected 486 new satellites, which leaves another 514 to complete the 1,000 goal for this year. So far, CASTOR is a month ahead of schedule!
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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jfsiteings
newbie
Reged: 05/27/09
Posts: 1
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great i am interasted in this how does one become
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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Exciting News!
CASTOR has detected another 35 satellites on the night of June 5th, bringing its total to 2,574 satellites.
Since the beginning of the IYA, CASTOR has detected 521 new satellites. June 5th brought it over the half way mark for this year! Only 479 satellites to go until the magic number 1,000!
I will be taking a little break over June, as the nights will not be too long and I need to rest up before the remaining number.
I am now certain that CASTOR will be able to detect the final 479 satellites to reach its IYA goal. It is already nearly one month ahead of schedule!
During the night of the 5th, I thought I had detected several new pieces of the Iridium 33 debris. However, a few SL-8 rockets and Iridium 33 itself tricked me into believing that I did. I will keep trying to detect more of the collision debris in July.
Exciting times!
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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After a few years compiling the CASTOR Satellite Catalogue (CSC), I am now in the process of cleaning up any errors that might have been made along the way.
Errors such as number typos, common name typos, incorrect orbit type, incorrect country of origin, etc. have to be corrected to improve the integrity of the catalogue.
I have tried to be very careful when entering the data for each satellite, but over time and with 2,574 entires, some mistakes (however minor) are bound to be made.
If you see any mistakes in the catalogue, please feel free to tell me so that I can have a look at it.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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Michael A. Earl
vendor- Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
Reged: 11/17/08
Posts: 1112
Loc: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
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As I was checking my catalogue for errors, I found another satellite in an image of Cosmos 1470. It was barely visible in the image, but it defintely was a satellite streak. I checked it out and found that it was the SaudiSatCom 3 communications satellite (NORAD #31125) from Saudi Arabia.
The object was originally captured on May 19th, but I decided to add it to the end of the catalogue (#2575) to preserve the integrity of the catalogue.
Sometimes when I target a particular satellite to track, another satellite will drift into the FOV. Sometimes the interloper will be barely visible and I will miss it completely at first check. Over time, I might go back to check for errors (like now) and find another one.
So, the catalogue has a new member! It is CASTOR's first detection of a Saudi satellite. I will be resuming my efforts in July.
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Michael A. Earl - Vendor
Canadian Satellite Tracking and Orbit Research
www.castor2.ca
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS
Celestron NexStar 8i SE
SBIG ST-9XE CCD
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