Questions tagged [observation]
Questions regarding observation of spacecraft or phenomenon in space
95
questions
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
GCRS and ICRS Frame in Optical Observations from near earth
Lets say I am trying to observe the night sky. My telescope has a pointing direction. I want to compare the RADecs of each star with another. Now I have 4 cases.
My telescope is on a satellite ...
0
votes
0
answers
67
views
How well can we predict asteroid impact location?
concern in December 2004 when initial observations indicated a probability up to 2.7% that it would hit Earth on April 13, 2029
- wikipedia on 99942 Apophis
So we can predict that something might hit ...
- 599
7
votes
1
answer
256
views
How much of what we see as “satellites” is space junk?
Ground observers using naked eyes see several LEO objects per minute under good observing conditions, and many times more with binoculars. These are usually referred to as “satellites”. Many are, ...
- 22.9k
3
votes
1
answer
82
views
Finding or calculating orbital velocities of celestial bodies at periapsis/apoapsis?
I'm writing a solar system simulation that uses n-body physics. To plug in the celestial bodies in our solar system, I'm copying orbital values from wikipedia. For one example, the wikipedia page for ...
- 31
4
votes
2
answers
602
views
Will the Artemis Gateway Lunar Space Station be visible from Earth by amateur observers?
When the entire Lunar Gateway space station is built it would be a bit smaller than the ISS. We amateur astronomers and observers love to spot the ISS and be able to follow the history of space ...
- 2,501
3
votes
0
answers
199
views
From where will the planned Artemis I launch be visible?
The latest planned Artemis I launch window is 69 minutes long, opening 2022-11-14T00:07:00−05:00, which if used will lead to a launch in complete darkness. I'm interested in the possibility of ...
- 195
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why does JWST have such a big Blind Spot?
The JWST’s field of regard excludes a significant portion of the celestial sphere in the anti-sun direction. See JWST field of regard (FOR) (source of the image below) Also see How much of the sky ...
- 22.9k
3
votes
1
answer
141
views
How close to the launch site at Kennedy Space Center does a press badge allow?
How much closer than Bananna Creek Viewing Area can a press badge get me to the launch site at Kennedy space center? Or any other way to get closer?
3
votes
0
answers
84
views
After the ISS which other artificial satellites are the best candidates to try to resolve in a telescope?
This question was asked on the initiative of the user @uhoh here.
I have a Sky-Watcher 10 inch Dobson telescope, equiped with a proper solar filter. Last year, I wanted to observe some satellites ...
- 31
7
votes
2
answers
164
views
Can I observe a Venus transit before 2117 from a spacecraft in the Earth-Moon neighbourhood?
The Astronomy SE side of things is clear: The next Venus transit is in 2117. Good things they come in pairs, the 2004 had too many clouds for me, but 2012 was excellent.
That means I will not see a ...
-6
votes
1
answer
220
views
How exactly are we ranging distances of objects in space? Are we doing it for real or is it just a hoax? [closed]
I have been wondering, maybe some one could enlighten me as to the answer I have been looking for. I have googled, but I am after a more direct answer to this question.
If light takes X time to travel ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
Future plans and advances for improved extrasolar planet imaging; has anything changed since 2019?
I have seen What is the state of the art of exosolar planet imaging in 2019? but answers there simply address the types and quality of images.
Here I'd like to ask about plans for future technology to ...
- 578
4
votes
1
answer
296
views
Under what conditions can a non-resonant satellite stay hidden from an observer on the ground?
From the perspective of someone on the ground, a satellite is usually not above the horizon all the time. But can a satellite have such an orbit that it is never above the horizon?
Such orbits clearly ...
1
vote
0
answers
206
views
Have any Apollo (or earlier) astronauts reported seeing Earth's aurora or related luminescent atmospheric effects?
Earth's aurora and related luminescent atmospheric effects are generally quite dim, and mostly but not always located in the general area of Earth's magnetic poles.
That means to be seen easily by eye ...
- 149k
4
votes
2
answers
665
views
How a spy satellite eavesdrop on another satellite?
I recently read about Mentor-4 (also alled USA-202 or NRLO-26), a gigantic US spy satellite (operated by NRO and the CIA) with a possible dish radio antenna of 100 meters in diameter located in GEO. ...
- 2,501