Besides seeing the satellite - I've seen several zip through the field of view in my telescope - tracking the object, even if you knew it was coming (and which one it actually was), would be very difficult. Way too fast for regular astronomical telescope mounts. And, yes, point of light is all you'd get.
We have had (very) limited success with doing a manual track of the ISS, during a visible pass. We used a Dobsonian scope with a Telrad, and a low magnification eyepiece. One person does the tracking, arm wrapped around the OTA, while the second person tries to look through the eyepiece to see the Station, as the whole thing is moving around. Amazing when it works, but requires practice and some luck.
Greg KO6TH
Bob wrote:
Hum,
Don't know what the thought of viewing AO-7 caught my attention, but it did. So I did some quick math:
In round numbers AO-7 is about 0.06 arc seconds across (1450 KM orbit, 0.4 meters diameter). That's the theoretical resolving power of a telescope with a 16,000mm focal length and magnification of about 500, constructed with perfect optics and operated in a vacuum. So I wouldn't hold my breath thinking you can observe it with a ground based telescope.
But maybe as a point of light? N2YO.com doesn't even list a magnitude for visible passes.
73, Bob, WB4SON
On Mon, Jul 9, 2018 at 7:38 AM, Samudra Haque [TTLLC] < sehaque@tekterrain.com> wrote:
Well, it is a well known that in some universes a double negative results in a positive result. I'm interested in taking an attempt at imaging OSCAR satellites. Any tips from the community for say, AO-7, using an optical telescope and a DSLR mounted at its focus?
Samudra N3RDX.
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Greg D Sent: Friday, July 6, 2018 8:07 PM To: APBIDDLE@MAILAPS.ORG; 'Ray Hoad' ray.hoad@mypbmail.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 orbit count.
With any luck, AO-7 will outlive (or perhaps it already has) the IBM punch card that caused the whole 5-digit thing in the first place. Of the constants in the universe, the first one is 42, immediately followed by either 72 or 80, depending on your background. We apparently had programmers define the KEPs format, as both lines are 71 characters long... :)
Greg KO6TH
(For source code, columns 73-80 were reserved for sequence numbers, so that when you dropped your deck, the cards could be reassembled in the proper order.)
Alan wrote:
Tom Clark, K3IO (ex-W3IWI) once observed that AO-7 was the only amateur satellite known to have suffered two catastrophic failures, thereby returning it to service. Hi HI
73,
Alan WA4SCA
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect
the official views of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be privileged and is intended for the exclusive use of the above named addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), you are expressly prohibited from copying, distributing, disseminating, or in any other way using any information contained within this communication. If you have received this communication in error please contact the sender by telephone or by response via mail. We have taken precautions to minimize the risk of transmitting software viruses, but we advise you to carry out your own virus checks on any attachment to this message. We cannot accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb