Subj : Satellite Antenna
To   : SPACEMAN SPIFF
From : Kusho
Date : Fri Jan 21 2005 08:21 am

  Re: Satellite Antenna
  By: SPACEMAN SPIFF to KUSHO on Mon Aug 30 2004 01:40 am

 >  >  > No, I meant I used it to track the ISS so I could show my son VISUALLY
 >  >  > binoculars... That sucker moves pretty fast.
 >  > Yea went outside and used to watch iridium flares on long shifts down in
 >  > panama..  have seen sattys also scoot across the sky but never figured ou
 >  > which one it was...
 >  > check out http://satobs.org/iridium.html   these are really neat.  get re
 >  > bright when their pannels line up with the sun.
 > In the summer we sit out back by the pool at night, we are near the Philly
 > International flight path not to mention several military bases in the area,
 > we look up and see a lot of air traffic. Every once in a while I see what i
 > 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)

Yea.  Thats the reason.  It's also why the iridium flairs are so bright, but
quicker, they are in a MUCH lower orbit.  The ones you see cook across the sky
are probally some type of spy satty.  Not always true, (trying to think of the
other sattys that are in the higher polar orbit, but can't right now)

For comm birds we use an even higher geosynchroness orbit so that they are
easier to follow with our gear.

Kusho

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