Good point. If it's in the Sun, it has vaporized! The best terminology(s) would be "in sunlight" or "sunlight illuminated". Another one could be "sunlight reflection".
As for a satellite being visible. It is required to be "sunlight illuminated" to be seen since we can only see the reflection of light off of its surface, it is not self illuminating. :) I recall seeing numerous objects pass from light to dark and the item visually disappeared. Yet, I kept track of the path and followed the object for a few seconds and I could see it blank out some stars that happened to be in its path! Just follow the orbital plane for a bit, but after about 5 to 10 seconds you lose track of the path.
Jeff WB3JFS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" simon@hb9drv.ch To: "AMSAT.org" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 4:12 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Sunny Side Up
Terminology: is a satellite in the sun, in the shade, illuminated... ?
I can say a satellite is visible, what's a simple was of saying it's illuminated by the sun?
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Yanko" wb3jfs@cox.net
It would also be used for trying to visually see the object. Especially helpful when the observer is in darkness but the satellite is illuminated. Just last week I saw the ISS pass over while it was fairly dark, not complete, yet plenty of sunlight at 200 or so miles above earth.
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