RFD: sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe (Repost)
Bart De Pontieu (bdp@cds.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de)
Wed, 4 Feb 1998 10:40:25 +0100 (MET)
[This is a repost of an RFD currently being discussed in news.groups]
From: Jim Varney [jamesv@softcom.net]
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,sci.astro,
sci.astro.amateur,sci.astro.planetarium,sci.space.shuttle,
sci.space.policy
Subject: RFD: sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
Followup-To: news.groups
Message-ID: <885952608.7249@isc.org>
Approved: newgroups-request@isc.org
Archive-Name: sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 01:56:48 GMT
Lines: 129
Xref: news.isc.org news.announce.newgroups:9723 news.groups:270603
sci.astro:165645 sci.astro.amateur:87552 sci.astro.planetarium:4980
sci.space.shuttle:55838 sci.space.policy:69390
REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
unmoderated group sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
Newsgroup line:
sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe Visually observing artificial
satellites.
This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of a
world-wide unmoderated Usenet newsgroup
sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe. This is not a Call for
Votes(CFV); you cannot vote at this time. Procedural details are
below.
RATIONALE: sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
The proposed newsgroup is intended to provide a forum for exchange of
information and dicussion about all topics related to the visual
observation of artificial satellites. There is currently no newsgroup
to discuss satellite observing. Interest in this topic is high, as
evidenced by the large number of postings (on various less-suitable
newsgroups such as sci.astro.amateur and sci.space.shuttle) about
sightings of the Iridium satellites, Space Station Mir, the Space
Shuttle, and requests for the identification of unknown satellites.
The Visual Satellite Observer's Home Page web site
(http://www.satellite.eu.org/satintro.html) is averaging
15,000 hits a month.
Currently the main forum for discussions on this topic is the
unmoderated SeeSat-L mailing list
[SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org]. This list is growing
continuously and now has over 450 members, with a volume of up to
25 messages per day. Although unmoderated, SeeSat-L is monitored by
the list owner. Messages with a high information content, such as
observations and orbital elements, are encouraged. Protracted
discussions are discouraged.
Many of the SeeSat-L messages do not fit in any of the existing Usenet
newsgroups. The sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe newsgroup would
allow a larger group of satellite observers to exchange information
and have broader discussions about visual satellite observing.
Creation of this newsgroup would reduce the number of inappropriate
postings about satellite observations to newsgroups such as
sci.astro.amateur and sci.space.shuttle.
The intent of this newsgroup is not to replace the SeeSat-L mailing
list. SeeSat-L will remain unchanged to provide a medium for timely
news and messages with high information content.
CHARTER: sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe
sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe is an unmoderated forum for
discussion and exchange of information about visual observing of
artificial satellites. Possible topics include (list is not exhaustive):
- reports of observations of artificial satellites (manned and
unmanned) and space probes using naked eye, binoculars, telescopes,
video, or photography
- orbital elements of satellites of current interest (new satellites,
satellites about to reenter the atmosphere, maneuvering satellites,
etc)
- announcements of planned and recent launches
- visibility predictions for artificial satellites
- predictions of the decay (atmospheric reentry) of artificial
satellites
- discussions about software related to predictions/analysis of visual
observations of artificial satellites
- instruments and techniques for visual observations of artificial
satellites
- results/reports of observational programs, such as the positional
measurements program of the UK Optical Tracking Working Group; the
flash period measurements program of the Belgian Working Group
Satellites; the informal spy satellite tracking program
- results of scientific studies using visual observations of
artificial satellites
The following types of articles are not part of the charter:
- non-visual artificial satellite observing (i.e. radio)
- articles which contain personal attacks of any sort, ad hominem
arguments, etc.
- blank messages, test messages, MAKE.MONEY.FAST, binaries, uuencoded
messages
- advertisements not related to artificial satellite observing.
Discussions about technical aspects of payloads or rockets are
acceptable, but only if they are branched off of an observation or are
limited in scope, detail and length. Articles containing discussions
of radio observations are not welcome, unless they are tied in with
visual observations.
END CHARTER.
PROCEDURE:
This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved. The discussion period will continue
for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it. Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.
All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.
This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and
"How to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal". Please refer to
these documents(available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.
DISTRIBUTION:
This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups: news.groups,
news.announce.newgroups, sci.astro, sci.astro.amateur,
sci.astro.planetarium, sci.space.shuttle, sci.space.policy.
This message will also be sent to the following mailing list after the
RFD has appeared in news.announce.newgroups:
SeeSat-L SeeSat-L@lists.satellite.eu.org
Follow-ups have been directed to news.groups. Please honor that and
keep the discussion to news.groups.
PROPONENTS:
Proponent: Jim Varney [jamesv@softcom.net]
Proponent: Jay Respler [JRespler@InJersey.com]
Proponent: Bart De Pontieu [bart@satellite.eu.org] (SeeSat-L list owner)
Proponent: Jeff Hunt [sat_mister@hotmail.com]
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