K4FEG wrote:
There have been questions as to whether or not a program like SATPC32 is calculating the solar position based on ground track or actual satellite position in orbit, I have not reached out to find out the method of calculations but based on how AO7 has reacted to even the briefest of eclipse's as predicted by SATPC32, I suspect the relationship of the satellite to the Sun is being predicted based on the actual satellite position in orbit and not based on ground track.
W9AE replies:
SatPC32 displays "Sat in Sun" when the satellite's footprint overlaps the sun's footprint. You can see it change to "Eclipse" when the two footprints no longer overlap.
In practice, AO-7's solar panel probably quits generating enough power when only a portion of the sun's "disc" is obstructed by earth. Consequently, the satellite would quit working a bit sooner than the actual eclipse, when 100% of the sun is shaded by earth.
This year I plan to make Field Day satellite contacts for the first time in several years. In western Oregon I can operate the un-crowded satellite passes where most of the footprint is over the Gulf of Alaska.
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik