Satellite Related Software.

Satellite Prediction Software

If you want to set about generating your own predictions for observing then naturally you'll need some software. What follows is a selection of software for various platforms with a short description and a pointer to the package itself.

• IBM PC
• UNIX
• Macintosh
• Hand-Held
• Archimedes
• Other

IBM PC

• Quicksat
  Mike McCants' program uses two-line elements to generate predictions which include an estimate of magnitude. It is text based, reading the input parameters from a formatted file. A not-very comprehensive magnitudes file is packaged with it.

• IDSat
  Ted Molczan's IDSat assists in the identification of observed satellites, by computing and tabulating close appulses of known satellites relative to the observed time and position. IDSat also lists the direction of travel, angular velocity and estimated prediction accuracy. Subject to the availability of data, it can also estimate the predicted visual magnitude.
• ObsReduce
  Ted Molczan's ObsReduce, is an MS Windows program for positional observers, that reduces observations of satellites relative to the background stars, into their precise coordinates. Observers identify their reference stars in a simulated binocular or telescope field of view, enter the observed geometry, and the program automatically produces an observation report in any one of the standard reporting formats.
• TrakSat 4.09
  Paul Traufler's shareware program TrakSat generates predictions from two line elements. It also produces a graphical display of the ground track in various projections and a plot of the pass against the local (star-filled) sky. Uses GUI interface under MSDOS. Propagation models used are SGP4 and SDP4. The Home Page for TrakSat contains information about the latest version of TrakSat and allows a trial version to be downloaded. The shareware programs WinTrak (for Win3.1/Win95) and WinTrak Pro (for Win95/NT 4.0) are also described.
• SatEvo
  Alan Pickup produced a program that computes the decay and re-entry time of earth satellites.
• Orbit 2.3
  A simple text based prediction program authored by Robert Berger built around the N3EMO code, available in the UNIX section below. Uses AMSAT format keplerian elements.
• Predict
  John Magliacane's free program for DOS (Y2K compliant) generates text based predictions using two line elements.
• WinOrbit 3.4
  This Windows freeware program by Carl Gregory generates a ground track graphic using two line or AMSAT format elements. Able to manipulate element sets in the case of delayed launches. Version 3.4 and earlier versions are also available at the author's web site. Note that it needs the Visual Basic VBRUN300.DLL file.
• STSPlus
  The late David Ransom's program uses the SGP4 model to produce tabulated predictions, orthographic views and ground tracks from two line or AMSAT elements.
• Sky Chart 2000.0
  This program is primarily a planetarium program but it can compute and display artificial Earth satellites using standard TLE satellite files. The PC version runs in 32-bit mode on Win95 and Windows NT.
• Nova
  Information regarding Nova for Windows (v1.0) and for DOS (v1.1) can be found at Northern Lights Software Associates.
• Home Planet (Release 2&3)
  John Walker provides a combination astronomy and sat tracking program for Windows. Be sure to use the nearest mirrored site for downloading the program. It's free !
• SatPro v1.6.0
  This DOS program maintains its own satellite database of up to 20,000 sats. This allows the user to sort satellites into groups of their own choosing. The database can be quickly updated from any TLE file including the large files provided by Molczan, McCants or Thomson. The program can fly up to 200 sats simultaneously.
• Satellite Tool Kit (STK)
  Analytical Graphics (AGI) is providing this analytical software program as Freeware. This large program (5.8 MB compressed) has features to help engineers build and operate satellites. A large part of STK has an orbital analysis suite. Registration is required. Orbital Report On-Line reports that a free CD-ROM version is also available by calling 1-888-ASK-4STK toll free (in North America), +44-181-299-3435 in Europe or +1-610-594-6939 in other countries, or by sending an e-mail to ask4stk@stk.com. AGI hopes to make its STK software a reference tool for space industry worldwide.
• Iridium Flares
  Randy John and Rob Matson have separately developed their own DOS programs that will predict reflective flares from the Iridium satellites. The above link will take you to their respective links and information on viewing the Iridium satellites.
• Satellite Tracker
  Brent Boshart has produced a freeware satellite tracking program to point Meade's LX200. It is a 32-bit Windows 95/98/NT program.
• SATBUSTER
  Paolo Cosetti has developed a Windows based graphical satellite tracking program. Details can be found at his website.

• ORBIT 1.1
  Alexander Churenkov has developed a Windows based graphical ballistic simulator program. The program allows the physical principles of the motion in the gravitational field of the Earth to be demonstrated and learned.

• Flyover
  Tom Sylvester developed a Windows based graphical satellite prediction program. Details can be found at his website.

• Orbit 1.0a
  Sebastian Stabroth's small visual satellite tracking program for Windows found at his website.

• Orbitron 2.41
  Sebastian Stoff's visual satellite tracking program for Windows reportedly includes Iridium flare predictions and is found at his website.

UNIX

• Sattrack
  Manfred Bester maintains a web page for commercial versions of Sattrack.
• Predict
  John Magliacane's free program for LINUX (Y2K compliant) generates text based predictions using two line elements.
• Xsat Version 1.5
  Dave Curry's public domain satellite tracker is an X-based satellite tracker which draws maps of various world regions and plots satellite ground tracks, complete with timestamps. xsat also produces a list of visible orbit passes for a given city, with extensive information on altitude, azimuth, and time. It can also produce a PostScript file which gives a hard copy of all displayed information.
• N3EMO
  Actually this is C source code suitable for the core of a prediction program. Available from any comp.sources.misc archive, volume 11.
• Usat 1.01
  A Unix compatible satellite tracking package.

Macintosh

• Charles Phillips: Macintosh Software For Satellite Tracking Applications.
• Sky Chart 2000.0 v2.5.3
  This program is primarily a planetarium program but it can compute and display artificial Earth satellites using standard TLE satellite files. The Macintosh version is for MacOS System 7; 68020 or higher; or PowerPC.
• MacDopplerPRO
  Go to the above link to get details on this satellite tracking program oriented toward radio tracking. A limited demo program can be downloaded.

Hand-Held Computers

• PocketSat3 for the iPhone and the iPod Touch
• PocketSat+ for the PalmOS and the Pocket PC
• pTrack for the Pocket PC palmtop and Windows CE computers using Windows CE 2.11 or above software.

Archimedes

• Spotter
  Spotter contains an implementation of the NORAD SGP4 & SDP4 satellite orbit models, in order to give visibility predictions for any orbiting object for which NORAD two line elements are available. Features include real-time position display (either textual, in numerous reference frames, or graphically with projection onto a world map), ground track plot generation, and element editing capabilities, for the purposes of education. The author is Stuart Martin and the current distribution is freeware.

Other PC Software Resources

• T.S. Kelso provides descriptions and links to various tracking software programs at his website.

Satellite Related Utility Software

IBMPC

• Element Manager for Windows
  Rick von Glahn developed a Windows 32 bit program that requires Windows 95/98 or NT. It is designed to manipulate NASA/NORAD "two line elements".
• GEOLong
  Ted Molczan's small DOS program provides the longitudinal order of geosync satellites.
• Vec2tle
  Ken Ernandes MS/DOS program converts a state vector (position, velocity data) to a two line element set. Can also re-epoch elements or accommodate on-orbit maneuvers. Free for amateur use.
• KeepTime 2.0
  Ulli Hanke has provided a Windows program (62.4 kbytes) to correct your Windows' PC clock automatically. For observations in darkness KeepTime generates audible time signals and messages read from a textfile with time and text to speak. The clock correction runs on Windows 3.x/95/98/ME, the speech function should run on all Windows versions.

Additional pages for obtaining satellite prediction software can be found at the Tracking Programs and TLE Resources page, and the Other Satellite Orientated Information page.

Link to the VSO Home Page.