Dear Dennis, My wife and I have been observing satellites for almost ten years (really, just casually - not timing flashes or precise positions - just estimating the brightnesses of as many satellites as we can see) and rarely do we have an observing session without at least one unexpected and initially unidentified satellite being seen. When such an interloper appears, we try to note when it passes an easily notable star or star pattern, usually to the nearest second of time. Later, using Rob Matson's Skymap program's all satellite search function, we can usually unambiguously identify the satellite. (I say usually because there are many objects in orbit whose orbital elements are not present in the available collections of elements - usually "classified" objects or debris or who knows what!) In my personal opinion, that Skymap program is the best freeware tool available for such purposes; note, that it is not a Windows program - "just" a graphical DOS one. I'm sure that other SeeSaters have other preferences for programs and/or methods; I just thought I'd throw in my two cents. Good luck in your observing and in ID-ing any "vermin of the skies" [a quote by an astronomer probably in the early 1900s referring to asteroids] you spot. Clear and dark skies! Ed Light Lakewood, NJ, USA N 40.1075, W 074.2312, +24 m (80 ft) On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 18:06:03 -0500 Dennis <d.p.richards@verizon.net> writes: > Question for the group: > > What are the steps to identify (seen) satellites. > Some of you are very adapt at this. Others (like me) are not. > > Thanks > Dennis Richards ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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