Rob,

See my article in the April/May issue of the AMSAT Journal. While not motorized, I'm sure it can be easily adapted to be motorized.

The basis is a simple Equatorial telescope mount.

If you need a copy let me know.

Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org

-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Rob Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2013 3:38 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Polar Tracking LEO Satellites ... ?

I'm looking to put together a quick an easy portable tracking system for LEO birds .... maybe something for field day use or an ISS school contact ....

Basically looking to do polar tracking with one rotor and a manual set declination angle ....

Thoughts are:

- rotor that can swing 180 degrees (-90,+90) - set the rotor to the half way point (0 degrees) - position the whole apparatus so that it's pointing at the azmith and elevation of the highest point on the pass - position the rotor to -90 for a west to east pass or +90 for a east to west pass - calculate the length of the pass and time the rotation so it sweeps 180 degrees in that period

I'v been googling this topic till my eyes cross .... saw some data about folks trying to do polar tracking of Ao-40 a while back ... but that was a tad different considering Ao-40 is (was) in a high elliptical orbit ...

Does anyone have advice ... or a link to some data .... calculations ... like how to convert az/el to something like (but not) declination/ra ????

Thanks,

--> Rob, KA2PBT _______________________________________________ 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