Author Topic: Tracking of Satellites, Rockets, ISS, Prove Earth's Curvature (Read 474 times)

Neil Obstat · « **on:** June 11, 2018, 03:06:48 AM »

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The man who made this rocket launch video was using tracking software for his camera that he wrote himself:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=24&v=2nEeEjN7ABU

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Minute 3:00 "Going over the curvature of the earth."
"Yeah, uh-huh."
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He explains what he's been doing here:
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I'm currently developing my own "closed loop" tracking software which uses a video camera viewfinder to automatically guide on bright, fast-moving objects such as rockets and satellites. My goal is to make ISS tracking somewhat "idiot-proof." It took me a few years to get good enough with Brent Boshart's software to reliably track ISS at high magnification - manual correction takes some getting used to, and I had to rig up a video viewfinder anyway to make it work reliably. Ideally my program will enable "two click" automated ISS tracking. Click once to start tracking based on the orbital elements, then click on ISS in the viewfinder to center it up automatically and maintain "closed loop" tracking for either photography/videography through the main telescope at high magnification, or even just visual observing through the eyepiece for your own enjoyment. No photo can do true justice to the view through the eyepiece. The vibrant color of the solar panels and the metallic shine of the habitat modules is a beautiful sight to behold.
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I've tested my software on rocket launches and it has worked well for that purpose, but I'm still writing the code for tracking satellites like ISS based on their orbital elements before automated tracking can take over.
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Once the satellite tracking code is completed I'll start porting the program to other kinds of telescopes; right now the telescope communication code is written exclusively for the LX200 classic. The program also allows for manual variable motion control using a joystick, a function that normally isn't possible with the classic LX200 (direct drive rate control wasn't implemented in the API until the newer autostar LX200s came out).

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2018, 12:38:18 AM »

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Amateur astronomers use celestial navigation procedures to find specific satellites based on the ephemerides of each satellite and the viewer's specific location (using latitude and longitude data).
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When you have all the current information at hand you can reliably predict where in the sky to look at exactly what time, in order to see the satellite in question going by through your telescope's field of view.
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In this way viewers can repeatedly spot the ISS going by overhead several times every day. Sometimes it can be seen twice in the same hour.
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There is a video of some amateur astronomers capturing the ISS traversing the sun's disk just as the total solar eclipse of August 21st, 2017 was already in progress.

Author Topic: Tracking of Satellites, Rockets, ISS, Prove Earth's Curvature (Read 474 times)

Neil Obstat

Tracking of Satellites, Rockets, ISS, Prove Earth's Curvature

Neil Obstat

Re: Tracking of Satellites, Rockets, ISS, Prove Earth's Curvature