25 Sep
2011
25 Sep
'11
9:18 p.m.
Interesting thread regarding MET and ARISSat-1 switch on. Someone made the very good point that the transition in or out of sunlight (eclipse) is not an on/off event. I remember many MIR visuals, and as she passed from sunlight in the west to darkness in the east there was a significant time, perhaps a minute or more when she changed colour from bright and silver white to orange then disappeared into blackness. I always interpreted that as passing through the penumbra, or semi shadow area. ARRISat-1 is at at around 370km, does anyone know how to find the width of the penumbra at that altitude? Working out the transit time through that region might be informative. 73 John G7HIA