[amsat-bb] Re: Sunny Side Up

[Jeff Yanko]

Good point.  If it's in the Sun, it has vaporized!  The best terminology(s) 
would be "in sunlight" or "sunlight illuminated".  Another one could be 
"sunlight reflection".

As for a satellite being visible.  It is required to be "sunlight 
illuminated" to be seen since we can only see the reflection of light off of 
its surface, it is not self illuminating. :)  I recall seeing numerous 
objects pass from light to dark and the item visually disappeared.  Yet, I 
kept track of the path and followed the object for a few seconds and I could 
see it blank out some stars that happened to be in its path!  Just follow 
the orbital plane for a bit, but after about 5 to 10 seconds you lose track 
of the path.


Jeff  WB3JFS



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" <simon at hb9drv.ch>
To: "AMSAT.org" <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 4:12 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Sunny Side Up


> Terminology: is a satellite in the sun, in the shade, illuminated... ?
>
> I can say a satellite is visible, what's a simple was of saying it's
> illuminated by the sun?
>
> Simon Brown, HB9DRV
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jeff Yanko" <wb3jfs at cox.net>
>>
>> It would also be used for trying to visually see the object.  Especially
>> helpful when the observer is in darkness but the satellite is 
>> illuminated.
>> Just last week I saw the ISS pass over while it was fairly dark, not
>> complete, yet plenty of sunlight at 200 or so miles above earth.
>>
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