Jonathan wrote: > According to the formula > A - 15.75 + 2.5 x log (BxB/C), > where A = the Standard magnitude, > where B = the range in kilometers, and > where C = the satellite illumination, > If I input 5.94 for A, 1000km for B, and 75% for C, I get +5.50. > Conclusions? The equation is wrong, or at best incomplete. "75% illumination" is the problem. What does that mean? There is no easy way for a satellite observer to know when an idealized satellite has 75% the brightness of "full phase". Most people seem to think that if you have a spherical satellite and you illuminate it from the side (so that the satellite appears like a half-circle), that it is exactly 1/2 has bright as if you illuminate it from the front (full circle). Seems logical, but it's wrong. Side illumination (90 degree phase) leads to only 31.83% the brightness of front (0 degree phase) illumination. This is why I want to know how standard magnitudes are computed. By defining the standard magnitude to correspond to 90 degree phase, I'm not at all optimistic that the correct phase formula was used to derive it. --Rob ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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