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
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
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.
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.
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
'In sunlight' - that's it.
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Yanko" wb3jfs@cox.net
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".
OK!. If you want a nice technical term, try "Helios photospheric illumination." :)
It's kind of like going to the restaurant and telling the waiter you'd like some Dihydrogen Oxide to drink...Water in other words. :)
Jeff WB3JFS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" simon@hb9drv.ch To: "AMSAT.org" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 4:35 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Sunny Side Up
'In sunlight' - that's it.
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Yanko" wb3jfs@cox.net
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".
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
SatPC32 says "Sat in Sun" and "Eclipse".
I'd written earlier, though, that it would be great if the pass-prediction component of tracking software could be configured to take illumination into account for those satellites that work on solar panels only. We don't really need to know when DO-64, for example, is rising if it is also in eclipse, and for software that automatically switches from bird to bird, it can mean that one loses part of a pass of another satellite waiting for the one that is in eclipse. Similarly, when planning operations by means of the kind of charts that HRD produces, it would be great to see blocks only for when AO-7 is in the sun, not for its entire pass.
73, Bruce VE9QRP
On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 8:42 AM, Jeff Yanko wb3jfs@cox.net wrote:
OK!. If you want a nice technical term, try "Helios photospheric illumination." :)
It's kind of like going to the restaurant and telling the waiter you'd like some Dihydrogen Oxide to drink...Water in other words. :)
Jeff WB3JFS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" simon@hb9drv.ch To: "AMSAT.org" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 4:35 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Sunny Side Up
'In sunlight' - that's it.
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Yanko" wb3jfs@cox.net
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".
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
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
The satellite us usually said to be illuminated or in eclipse.
Simon (HB9DRV) wrote:
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?
It helps those "astronomers" that like to visually spot satellites. Spotting the ISS and shuttle is quite popular.
Simon (HB9DRV) wrote:
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
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Thanks everyone for this feedback - drat, I'll have to add this option.
As it happens it quite easy to determine whether a satellite is illuminated or not.
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" nigel@ngunn.net
It helps those "astronomers" that like to visually spot satellites. Spotting the ISS and shuttle is quite popular.
It's also to know if the satellite will be visible from the ground (at least the big ones like the ISS), if the satellite is in sunlight in orbit and we're in darkness on the ground.
Greg KO6TH
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From: simon@hb9drv.ch To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:55:36 +0200 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
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participants (5)
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Bruce Robertson -
Greg D. -
Jeff Yanko -
Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF -
Simon (HB9DRV)