--- On Mon, 6/28/10, Reid Crowe reid.crowe@gmail.com wrote:
From: Reid Crowe reid.crowe@gmail.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Pass prediction algorithm To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Received: Monday, June 28, 2010, 8:59 AM I'm trying to write my own pass prediction program for tracking FM satellites. This program will this notify the users of upcoming passes via APRS messaging. I would like to find an algorithm that will predict AOS/LOS time and azimuth and the maximum elevation. I'm also hoping this algorithm will not be too computationally intensive as it may possibly be used for hundreds of different station locations.
Can anyone help?
I'd suggest looking at books on spacecraft mechanics.
One which may help is "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics" by Roger R. Bate, Donald D. Meuller, and Jerry E. White (published by Dover). It's one of the better books on the subject, in my opinion, as I found it easier to read than many of the others I've seen. One does need some familiarity with calculus and linear algebra in order to understand the theory, however, but it's not overwhelming.
Another one is "Modern Spacecraft Dynamics & Control" by Marshall H. Kaplan (published by John Wiley & Sons). It's good, too, but I didn't find it as easy to go through as the other one.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL