Joe -
I did the implementation described in a professional flight dynamics software program. The convention (as specified by the gov't) is to have an array of 360 azimuthal "obscura" elevations. The first entry defines the minimum elevation for 0 to 1 deg in azimuth, the second entry defines the minimum elevation for 1 to 2 deg in azimuth, up to the 360th entry defining 359 to 0/360 deg in azimuth. The 1-deg wide azimuthal increments are narrow enough that you get an excellent obscura picture even with the elevations being a step function. It provides a great way to anticipate when obstructions may interfere with an RF or visible LOS.
73, Ken N2WWD
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 26, 2013, at 2:34 PM, Joseph Armbruster josepharmbruster@gmail.com wrote:
Joe,
What tracking program is that?
I was thinking of making my satellite icons configurable. This way the satellite would look like the actual satellite. Even better, I could store collada models for them and load them in place of the icon. Oh la la, that's an idea.
Joseph Armbruster
On Mar 26, 2013, at 7:58 AM, Joe Fitzgerald wrote:
On 3/25/2013 6:42 PM, Ken Ernandes wrote:
- If you decide to give the users the ability to input their location, them the option to provide either a single minimum elevation angle or a local map -- i.e., 360 individual minimum elevations as a function of Azimuth. It's much easier to project this and the user is generally interested in an unobstructed LOS with respect to his/her location.
It's not the best resolution but in the image below, you can see how there are "cut outs" in the circles surrounding NASA's ground stations - the software has clearly implemented the idea Ken outlined above. For example, there is apparently some obstruction to the south east of the Hawaiian tracking station. If the sub-satelite point is inside the white line it's AOS. The surface of the earth visible to the shuttle, on the other hand, is simply a red circle, just faintly visible in this image.
http://vault.newsfromspace.com/missions/sts114/STS114_land-5.jpg
-Joe KM1P _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb