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How many satilites?

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  • 05-01-2009 7:09pm
    #1
    Duff
    Registered Users Posts: 5,542 ✭✭✭


    Does anyone know roughly how many satilites pass over the country on an average night? And do different satilites move at different speeds in orbit? Reason im asking is because last night I was out looking at the sky for over an hour and the amount of objects I seen moving at speeds and directions no aircraft could do was amazing! I'd say in total I seen circa 25 different objects (not shooting stars etc). Most moved quickly across the whole sky but there was 2 or 3 that moved then stopped then would shoot up at a right angle and start moving again!:eek:


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    #2
    Honda08
    Closed Accounts Posts: 497 ✭✭Honda08


    Duff wrote: »
    Does anyone know roughly how many satilites pass over the country on an average night? And do different satilites move at different speeds in orbit? Reason im asking is because last night I was out looking at the sky for over an hour and the amount of objects I seen moving at speeds and directions no aircraft could do was amazing! I'd say in total I seen circa 25 different objects (not shooting stars etc). Most moved quickly across the whole sky but there was 2 or 3 that moved then stopped then would shoot up at a right angle and start moving again!:eek:


    loads!
    a different iridium ( satellite phone network ) satellite passes over Ireland every 8 minutes. its amazing being able to make a call from anywhere on earth, with Iridium! also iridium satellites are known to flare, ie they reflect the sun back to earth, when sunlight hits their arrays.
    most non geostationery satellites pass once round the earth every 90 minutes ish...


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    #3
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users Posts: 22,771 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    The following satellites (to magnitude 4.5) are visible from the Dundalk area from midday to 01:00 tomorrow morning according to [url]www.heavens-above.com:[/url]

    Name Mag Time Alt. Az.

    Radarsat 4.4 16:52:57 10° SE
    Cosmos 1544 3.8 16:53:43 10° N
    Cosmos 1908 3.9 17:02:19 10° NNW
    Cosmos 2297 3.4 17:14:51 10° NNW
    Cosmos 1626 4.4 17:15:34 10° NNW
    Lacrosse 4 4.2 17:21:27 10° W
    Spot 4 4.1 17:22:06 10° SE
    Lacrosse 3 2.8 17:26:55 10° W
    Cosmos 1869 4.4 17:27:53 10° NNW
    Cosmos 1151 3.8 17:32:12 10° N
    Cosmos 1943 4.2 17:32:51 10° SSE
    Cosmos 1437 3.9 17:34:55 10° NNW
    Lacrosse 4 4.0 17:50:41 10° SE
    Cosmos 1825 4.4 17:51:21 10° NNW
    Okean 3 4.4 18:16:25 10° N
    Cosmos 2058 4.4 18:21:24 10° S
    Cosmos 1378 4.0 18:36:46 10° SSW
    Cosmos 2322 4.4 18:38:27 10° SSE
    Cosmos 1697 3.9 18:46:29 10° S
    Cosmos 1300 4.5 18:49:19 10° NNW
    SL-08 RB 4.4 18:59:08 40° SE
    Lacrosse 3 2.5 19:08:49 10° WNW
    Cosmos 1943 3.8 19:15:43 10° SW
    Lacrosse 4 3.1 19:27:29 10° SW
    Cosmos 1980 4.3 20:03:28 10° SSW


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    #4
    Duff
    Registered Users Posts: 5,542 ✭✭✭Duff


    Cheers for the link. Interesting site that.


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    #5
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 91,408 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    satellites vary in speed

    ISS and other low earth orbit start off at about 90 minutes
    the higher up you go the longer it takes
    12 hours would be for GPS

    Geosynch don't appear to move

    and I doubt you'd see these 12 hour ones from here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_orbit

    there are also lots of pieces of space debris out there too


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