K4FEG wrote:
There have been questions as to whether or not a program like SATPC32 is calculating the solar position based on ground track or actual satellite position in orbit, I have not reached out to find out the method of calculations but based on how AO7 has reacted to even the briefest of eclipse's as predicted by SATPC32, I suspect the relationship of the satellite to the Sun is being predicted based on the actual satellite position in orbit and not based on ground track.
W9AE replies:
SatPC32 displays "Sat in Sun" when the satellite's footprint overlaps the sun's footprint. You can see it change to "Eclipse" when the two footprints no longer overlap.
In practice, AO-7's solar panel probably quits generating enough power when only a portion of the sun's "disc" is obstructed by earth. Consequently, the satellite would quit working a bit sooner than the actual eclipse, when 100% of the sun is shaded by earth.
This year I plan to make Field Day satellite contacts for the first time in several years. In western Oregon I can operate the un-crowded satellite passes where most of the footprint is over the Gulf of Alaska.
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik
Hi K4FEG
If you like to know for sure when a satellite is into eclipse or not use please InstantTrack.
Option 5 Multiple Satellite Co-visibility will answere to your question.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Estes" w9ae@charter.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 9:54 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO7 in Mode B
K4FEG wrote:
There have been questions as to whether or not a program like SATPC32 is calculating the solar position based on ground track or actual satellite position in orbit, I have not reached out to find out the method of calculations but based on how AO7 has reacted to even the briefest of eclipse's as predicted by SATPC32, I suspect the relationship of the satellite to the Sun is being predicted based on the actual satellite position in orbit and not based on ground track.
W9AE replies:
SatPC32 displays "Sat in Sun" when the satellite's footprint overlaps the sun's footprint. You can see it change to "Eclipse" when the two footprints no longer overlap.
In practice, AO-7's solar panel probably quits generating enough power when only a portion of the sun's "disc" is obstructed by earth. Consequently, the satellite would quit working a bit sooner than the actual eclipse, when 100% of the sun is shaded by earth.
This year I plan to make Field Day satellite contacts for the first time in several years. In western Oregon I can operate the un-crowded satellite passes where most of the footprint is over the Gulf of Alaska.
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik _______________________________________________ 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
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Wayne Estes