Subj : Satellite Antenna To : SPACEMAN SPIFF From : ANGUS MCLEOD Date : Mon Aug 30 2004 02:46 am SGID: 1:261/38 9979c8bd EPLY: 1:261/38 fa439fd0 ZUTC: -0500 HARSET: LATIN-1 From: "Angus Mcleod" 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 and > seemed to vanish. Either it went into the Earths shadow or the panals change > 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 refuelling, so firing a kick-motor is not something that is undertaken lightly. What you most likely noticed was the satellite passing through the terminator between full daylight and the earth's penumbra or umbra. When watching satellites, the best time is shortly after full nightfall, so you are in the dark, but the satellites are still fully illuminated. In the middle 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... -+- ¤ Synchronet ¤ CQ DX! The ANJO BBS calling on 56K dial-up... --- BBBS/LiI v4.01 Flag-5 * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38) þ wcQWK 6.0 .