Re: Geosynch's etc.

From: Ed Cannon (ecannon@mail.utexas.edu)
Date: Sat Aug 31 2002 - 20:53:12 EDT

  • Next message: paul: "TDF 1 inv->inv :("

    >Does anyone know of a website that describes how a person 
    >can determine whether a geosynchronous satellite (or any 
    >of the slow moving satellites that have been discussed 
    >recently) can be see from a particular place on the earth? 
    >Observing tips would also be very welcome. :~)
    
    Check out these two websites for a lot of good information:
    
    VSOHP page about geosats:
     http://www.satobs.org/geosats.html
    
    Jason Hatton's page (new URL):
     http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/hattonjasonp/hasohp//GEO.HTML
    
    Jason's site also has a lot about objects in highly 
    eccentric orbits.
    
    Tip Number One is that they are best/easiest observed with 
    a telescope (required for operational geosats almost always) 
    or mounted binoculars.  However, brightly flashing geosynchs 
    can be observed with handheld binoculars, but so far only a 
    very few of them have predictable flash episodes.  So you 
    have just to look where they are for more than the length of 
    a known flash period and see if you see a flash.  (It does 
    take a bit of patience, but you can admire the stars while
    you wait for a flash.)  The more observations that are done,
    the more the chances of the flash episodes being predictable.  
    Operational "laring geosats" or geosynchs can be observed 
    with binoculars -- and a few even without magnification -- 
    during the "flaring geosynch seasons", which are near the 
    equinoxes.
    
    Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA
    
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