At 12.10 29/08/00 -0400, you wrote: >I'm looking for a formula to "roughly" calculate magnitude for my >satellite tracking program. I realize magnitude is dependent on many >different factors but want a "semi-quantitative" value at least to be >able to "filter" objects that would be reasonably visible. Thanks for >any help. > >Brent Boshart Hi Brent, you can use this classic formula: mag = stdmag - 15.75 + 2.5 * log10 (range * range / fracil) where stdmag = satellite standard magnitude ( at 1000km range, 50% illuminated ) range = distance from observer to satellite (km) fracil = fraction of satellite illuminated ( 0 <= fracil <=1 ). Check the following document: "Description of data in the Molczan file" (Ted Molczan) Regards, Paolo Cosetti Web site: http://users.iol.it/paolo.cosetti http://members.xoom.it/poldino ACME I-MI-06 / TRA #08249 Level 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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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