Precise mathematical definitions are fine but there's reality to consider. One subtlety that people miss with a 'perfect' sun-synchronous orbit is that the sub-satellite lighting conditions at a given location change on a daily basis due to a combination of the eccentricity and inclination of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Another is orbital decay so if it an orbit is precisely and mathematically sun-synchronous today, then tomorrow...... it isn't. Back to the NK launch - we seem to be seeing enthusiasm, ineptness or whatever from Pyongyang that then becomes a propaganda item for the other side. Reporters see black and white - the experienced among us see the shades of grey and the patches of colour. Bob Christy On 08/04/2012 20:46, Brian Weeden wrote: > ............there is precise mathematical definition and that's good > enough for me........ > > On Sun, Apr 8, 2012 at 3:27 PM, Bob Christy <bob@zarya.info > <mailto:bob@zarya.info>> wrote: > > I agree absolutely. I made a similar point a few days ago, immediately > after Ted's original analysis of the potential inclination (scroll > down > to the "Trajectory" heading): > http://www.zarya.info/Gallimaufry/Kwangmyongsong3.php > > Bob Christy > > On 08/04/2012 19:57, Jonathan McDowell wrote: > > ..........In the absence of an accepted international definition > it's a matter of taste what the > > tolerance should be. And for the North Koreans, if their > satellite only works for > > a couple of weeks, say, then you only care how much the local > time drifts during that > > period. > > > > - in the spirit of friendly pedantic argument, > > Jonathan > > _______________________________________________ > > Seesat-l mailing list > > http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l > > > > > > ----- > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> > > Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4922 - Release Date: > 04/08/12 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Seesat-l mailing list > http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l > > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> > Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4922 - Release Date: 04/08/12 > _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
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