RE: Tumbling Satellites

From: Bjoern Gimle (b_gimle@algonet.se)
Date: Thu Jun 01 2000 - 12:44:38 PDT

  • Next message: John W. Gardner, Jr.: "#5 USSPACECOM recats -- 06779U"

    > your observation and mine.  I would think, but correct me someone if I am
    wrong, that  he
    > in CA and me in NJ could not see the same object at the same time????
    Unless of course it
    > is of a very high orbit.
    >
    Yes, you can, as long as you are talking local times!
    All satellite orbits maintain approximately the same orientation to the Sun
    and the stars during one day or more.
    If you see one at 9 pm and it has a period of around 90 minutes, two orbits
    later (three hours) it will be about 45 degrees west of you, at your
    latitude, and their local time is 9 pm.
    If the satellite is near-polar, all "inhabited" latitudes will have a pass
    near the same local time (but at my 59N the Sun would still be shining).
    
    If your times (EDT? and PDT) differ by 3h, a period near 90 (or 180) minutes
    would be implied, but more accurate times and positions are required to
    determine if it could be the same object (and which).
    
    
    
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