Newbie with questions

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: Mike McCants: "New Cosmos launched"
• Previous message: Mike McCants: "satwk51.rpt from OIG"
• Next in thread: Philip Chien: "Macintosh satellite tracking software - Re: Newbie with questions"

I discovered the hobby of satellite observation just two weeks ago and just
joined SeeSat.  I am a Macintosh user (in an IBM world) but have the
capability to run IBM software in slow motion.  Is there any software out
there that can sift out satellite passes based on proximity to easily seen
stars and planets?  I need this capability to see faint satellites with
binoculars.  

The second question I have deals with writing tracking software.  I have read
and understand how to implement the models in the Spacetrack Report No. 3 to
obtain the spatial coordinates of a satellite at a given time.  What I am
lacking is more basic.  I do not know how to convert the X,Y,Z coordinates of
a satellite to elevation, azimuth coordinates.  If the earth were a perfect
sphere I would have no problems.  Any information about how longitude and
latitude are projected onto the idealized ellipsoid of the earth, etc. would
be appreciated.  Thanks.

Wilfred Whiteside (soilman3@aol.com)

• Next message: Mike McCants: "New Cosmos launched"
• Previous message: Mike McCants: "satwk51.rpt from OIG"
• Next in thread: Philip Chien: "Macintosh satellite tracking software - Re: Newbie with questions"