Contents - Index


Satellites

 

The 'Satellites' tab-page is where you can choose which satellites will be plotted on the 'Satellite Footprint' and 'Satellite Track' map layers, and set their parameters.

 

There are over 6800 Satellite Two-Line Elements listed on the Celestrak website, each of which are used to calculate the current position of a satellite. These are downloaded as needed, and the list is shown on the 'Satellites' tab-page, divided into 50 groups. Select your chosen 'Group of Satellites' in the drop-down control, click a satellite name in the Satellite List to select it, then click the 'Add Satellite to the Display List' button to add that satellite to the list of 'Selected Satellites' that will be displayed on the map. Up to eight satellites can be shown on the map simultaneously. The program will update the Satellite Two-Line Elements when a new satellite is chosen, and then automatically, every two hours.

 

Adjacent to each satellite-name in the 'Selected Satellites' panel is an 'Active' checkbox. This controls whether that satellite's track and footprint will be plotted on the map. If the check in the checkbox is cleared, then the satellite will still be shown in the rotating list on the Info Bar (page 'IG'), but it will not plot on the map.

 

Clicking a Satellite Name in the 'Selected Satellites' panel will show an additional 'Satellite Params' panel. Here you can choose the Icon that is used on the map for that satellite, and the length of the tracks: a path of negative duration (0 to 90 minutes), showing where the satellite has been during that period; and a path of positive duration (0 to 90 minutes), showing where the satellite will be during that period. You can also remove a satellite from the 'Selected Satellites' panel by clicking the 'Remove Selected Satellite' button. Note that you can't remove all the satellites: there will always be one in the list.

 

After selecting your satellites, close the 'Settings Menu', and open the 'Layers Menu' to enable and configure the 'Satellite Footprint' and 'Satellite Track' map layers, setting their colors and widths. 

 

There is more satellite information available in the Info Bar (on page I5), and in the 'Satellite Data' section of the Data Bar.

 

The 'Satellite Data' section of the Data Bar show a small amount of data for the currently selected satellite: its current Azimuth, Elevation, and Range from the User Position, and the satellite name.

 

The information in the Info Bar is far more comprehensive: Latitude, Longitude, Azimuth, Elevation, Range, Altitude, Speed, and Footprint Radius. It also shows the date and time of 'AOS' (Aquisition Of Satellite) at the User Location for the next 5 passes where the satellite will be visible at the User Location, with the predicted track shown on a small polar plot of the User's sky. There is also a countdown timer to the next 'AOS'.

 

When the satellite is in view, an arrow is added to the polar plot, showing the current direction to the satellite from the User Position, with a countdown timer to 'LOS' (Loss Of Satellite).