For telemetry purposes it would make an interesting point to watch live telemetry as the satellite passes from light to dark, or vice versa, and notice the change of the charge current and voltage and temps of the solar panels.
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.
Jeff WB3JFS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" simon@hb9drv.ch To: "AMSAT.org" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 3:55 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Sunny Side Up
Some satellite tracking software shows whether a satellite is in sunlight or not.
I assume that this is to know whether it's being powered by the solar cells when the battery is defunct.
Is there any other reason to know whether a satellite is in sunlight or the shade?
Simon Brown, HB9DRV _______________________________________________ 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