Abstract. Catalogue GOCKU99 (Geosynchronous Objects Catalogue:Kyiv-Uzhgorod 1999) containing topocentric equatorial coordinates and orbital elements of geosynchronous satellites obtained by photographic methods at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine ( MAO NASU ) and at the Space Research Laboratory of Uzhgorod State University (SRL USU) in 1999 is presented. Results of identification of 2445 observations of 140 objects among the total 2570 observations of 169 objects are given. Peculiarities of controlled geosynchronous satellites identification are considered.
Photographical observations of geosynchronous satellites were
performed at MAO NASU and SRL USU in 1999 following the previous surveys
(Demchyk et al.1996; Kizyun et al.1998).
Total number of identified and unidentified objects for each station is
summarized in Table 1.124 various objects are observed
in 1999, 35 of them - in two stations.
The satellite right ascensions RA and declinations D obtained
using the observations at MAO NASU reduced using the PPM Star
Catalogue in J2000.0 reference frame(Table 2). Time instants
are given in the UTC scale.
Table 3 presents the satellites positions obtained at SRL USU
and reduced using the same Catalogue. Time instants are given in the UTC(SU) scale.
The object name,its COSPAR designation, the object motion type
((c)-controlled satellites,(d)-drifting objects,
objects subsatellite longitude L (degree),longitude drift
Lt (degree/day), time in MJD scale, i- orbital inclination, W-
longitude of the ascending node (degree), u -argument
perigee (degree) are provided for the identified objects.
There are W(lap),i(lap) for the active satellites
with a large orbital inclination (i) and for the passive objects
with a large longitude drift. An observations by which an orbital
manoeuvre of the satellite is followed is marked by asterisk.
The identification has been pursued by the orbital inclination,
longitude of the ascending node, both reffered to the Laplace
plane, objects Greenwich longitude and longitude drift
using the method (Kirichenko & Klimik 1994 ).
Above equator region are the heights where the geostationary
satellites are distributed filles up mainly by communication,meteorological
satellites and so the satellites for near space investigation. The
periodical manoeuvres are need to keep these objects within the limits
of +-0.1 degr in longitude. These ones compensate the satellites deviations
from the nominal subsatellite point for the various types of satellites
perturbations.
The most observations carried out at MAO NASU and SRL USU
are controlled,their subsatellite longitude drift is almost equal zero.
At first sight the controlled satellites are lightly
identified as they "hang" in the same longitudes. But the observations
analysis (Demchyk et al.1996; Kizyun et al.1998;Kirichenko
et al.1998 ) shown that there are some peculiarities in the
identification of these objects and the confident satellites identification
impossible without the systematic catalogues of their orbital elements
(Log of objects,1999).
So,at the longitude of (60.0 +-0.1) degr the controlled
object is observed and near it - the object 90056A. In 1997 at this longitude
have been detected another object with the orbit not diven in catalogues.
From 1999 only two unidentified objects have been observed in this region.
There is object observed at the longitude 57.0 degr during six years,but
this one not given in catalogues too.It may be many examples to take
like that.In such case the photometric investigations is
desirable to carry out to make sure of the same objects.
The large deficiency of modern systematic catalogues is
that they don't give an information about the transfer of uncontrolled
objects in another longitude. So, the object 91003B, observed at SRL before
at the longitude 10 degr(E) was observed at the longitude 355.4 degr
beginning from July 1999. The object 92041B was observed at the longitude
7 degr(E),but then was transfered of the longitude 10 degr(E).
Because of damage the instruments at the space objects
(the refusal of boundary systems,the orientation disturbance and so on) controlled
objects become uncontrolled (passive). After their orbital manoeuvres, these
satellites become controlled again. As an example there are two satellites
97070A,Kupon 1 and 99047A, Yamal 1 Table 4.
The satellites orbital manoeuvres with a zero orbital
inclination (i=0 degr) and withi>1 degr is different.
For the first type of objects the subsatellite longitude changes
within the limits of +-0.1 arc sec. But, if i>1 degr,
the satellite longitude may to change at more large value. The data
in Table 5 show as the satellites 99010A, Raduga 1
and 81107A, Fleetsatcom 5 longitudes changes. 99010A satellite manoeuvre
took place within MJD 51315.88-51316.87,and for the 81107A object at the
moment MJD 51254.99. During the time from MJD 51251.97 to MJD 51375.97
the subsatellite longitude changes almost at 1 degr.
The satellite orbital elements referred to the Laplace
plane are need for the objects identification with a large orbital
inclination (Demchyk et al.1996 ). In this case the
orbital inclination changes without orbital manoeuvres linearly.
The controlled geostationary satellites having
companions,located closer than 0.1 degr, collocated satellites,
are difficult to identify, when the orbital manoeuvres occured.
In Fig.1,2 the collocated satellites positions
are given as they obtained using the SBG camera.