Re: Counterintuitive Observation

From: Robert Fenske Jr (robert.fenske@swri.org)
Date: Mon Jan 07 2008 - 19:32:43 UTC

  • Next message: Brian Weeden: "Re: Counterintuitive Observation"

    On Mon, 7 Jan 2008, Art Glick wrote:
    
    > Then again, in the case of the brighter pass, the observer is "in
    > between" the sun and the object (so to speak) and in the case of the
    > dimmer pass, the object is in between the observer and the sun.  Is that 
    > it?
    
    That is exactly it.  The Sun-satellite-observer angle can make a big 
    difference.  The sunlight reflected off the satellite behaves just like the 
    light reflected from the Moon.  When the Moon (satellite) is between you and 
    the Sun you only see a thin crescent and hence it's not as bright; when 
    you're in between the Sun and Moon the Moon (satellite) is nearly full and 
    hence bright.  The best satellite passes are those that are in the sky 
    opposite the Sun.
    
    Robert Fenske, Jr.
    
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