Subj : Satellite Antenna
To   : Angus Mcleod
From : Zetanet
Date : Mon Aug 30 2004 02:42 am

  Re: Satellite Antenna
  By: Angus Mcleod to Spaceman Spiff on Mon Aug 30 2004 01:41 am

 >   Re: Satellite Antenna
 >   By: Spaceman Spiff to Kusho on Sun Aug 29 2004 18:35:00
 > 
 >  > think are satellites. I watched one go a third of the way across the sky 
 >  > seemed to vanish. Either it went into the Earths shadow or the panals cha
 >  > angle? (most probable and rational explanations)
 > 
 > Satellites don't "wave their arms about".  Repositioning a satellite using
 > "magnetorquing" can take many hours as the satellite attitude is gradually
 > changed.  Even satellites with positive attitude correction, fire up their
 > motors *very* rarely.  It cost a flippin' fortune, and there is no refuellin
 > so firing a kick-motor is not something that is undertaken lightly.
 > 
 > What you most likely noticed was the satellite passing through the terminato
 > between full daylight and the earth's penumbra or umbra.
 > 
 > When watching satellites, the best time is shortly after full nightfall, so 
 > are in the dark, but the satellites are still fully illuminated.  In the mid
 > of the night, there is no sunlight overhead, so the satellites can't be seen
 > 
 > After a clear day flying at out club, we often sit around and talk after the
 > sun goes down.  We frequently see a number of satellites passing overhead.
 > Sometimes 8-10 in one evening -- accasionally 2-3 at a time.  Nobody's ever
 > worked out which birds they were, but it shouldn't be too hard...
 > 

You a pilot or you fly something else? Also the satellites you normally see are
amatuer build probably because most of the others are communications sats and
stationary. Correct me if I am wrong. 

Webdaddy



---
 þ Synchronet þ PEAKNET (Powered by Zeta-Net) telnet://peaknet.isptoolz.com

.