Re: question about size of hobby

From: Björn Gimle (b_gimle@algonet.se)
Date: Sat Apr 16 2005 - 05:59:21 EDT

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    > Since Space-Track went online my satellite observing has gone down to
    > nearly zero. I use the program Orbitron which can not read the some of
    > the Space-Track files
    
    > I'm not devoted enough to jump through the flaming hoops of getting
    > a SpaceTrack account and using programs to download the whole catalog
    
    For those who accept using a prediction program on their own computer,
    there is no additional hassle to get a Space-Track account and download
    files.
    
    You may need to download the free gzip and a program to add names to
    the elsets, and/or pay for the winzip program. That's all
    
    > I have to say, the whole thing with SpaceTrack has just about killed
    > what active interest I had in this hobby.
    
    The real killer is the extreme difficulty of getting permissions to share
    analysis done using Space-Track data. Helping less proficient
    amateurs ID their obs, suggesting objects to observe, analyzing
    flashing behaviours etc and sharing this makes the hobby joyful -
    how fun is it to do this just on your own?
    
    As noted in their own JournalWinter05Web.pdf document (link
    posted on SeeSat recently
    http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2005/0025.html)
    the real effect could be to concentrate most amateur activity
    to the secret satellites; their data is NOT restricted !
    
    As for the size of my hobby, I observe every clear Friday and
    Saturday, in winter also some Thursday and Sunday evenings
    at our weekend cottage. Because of my latitude, May-July
    are almost impossible. In town, or with otherwise poor visibility,
    I only observe special events, like expected satellite maneouvre
    or decay. This might add up to about 50 days/year.
    
    I have only travelled few times to the weekend cottage during
    working weeks for special events - never elsewhere.
    
    Note that many non-members, visiting H-A, can be considered
    amateurs. Their statistics show how many users and visits they have.
    I have some five friends, who do not use either of them, but want
    me to tip them off about interesting flares and other passes.
    
    Over the years I must have downloaded over a hundred different
    satellite-related programs, plus several versions of the few I
    use regularly.
    
    /Björn
    
    -- COSPAR 5919, MALMA,    59.2576 N, 18.6172 E, 23 m         --
    -- COSPAR 5918, HAMMARBY, 59.2985 N, 18.1045 E, 44 m         --
    
    
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