RE: [amsat-bb] Re : Taking a picture of AO40 in orbit?

["Timothy S. Zibrat" <tzibrat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I finally found the site I stumbled across some time ago.  What these guys
can do is pretty impressive.

http://www.meridiancontrols.com/sattracking.html

I wonder if we can get these guys to show off their capabilities by
capturing AO40 and using it for advertisement purposes?

Just a thought.

-Tim
K3TZ


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org [mailto:owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org]On
> Behalf Of John Mills
> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 1:32 PM
> To: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re : Taking a picture of AO40 in orbit?
>
>
> Hi Tim,
>
> This idea was put to me sometime ago, but trying to image a satellite in
> detail using a ground based astronomical telescope just wouldn't work?
> The problems being image resolution and tracking rate.
>
> An object just a few metres across moving through space would
> only show up
> as a point of light. I doubt if even the ISS would be able to be resolved.
> Here at the observatory where I work, sometimes a satellite moves
> through a
> field being imaged and it appears as just narrow streek across
> the CCD frame.
>
> The other problem is the tracking rate. Large astronomical telescopes are
> designed to slew rapidly to an object, but when acquired, the speed drops
> to sidereal rate to offset the rotation of the Earth to keep the target
> centred.
>
> There are special telescopes (like the Hewitt Camera) designed
> for tracking
> satellites. These use a special type of shutter that chops the image trail
> into segements. I'm no expert on this, but I guess the shutter is
> linked to
> an accurate time source thus enabling time-tagged measurements of
> the orbit
> against the star background. Such instruments are probably used
> (or were) by
> NORAD for satellite tracking and from this data, Keplerian elements can be
> generated.
>
> It has been proposed that one of our telescopes (the 2.5m Isaac Newton
> telescope) to prevent closure from funding cutbacks could be used to scan
> the Clarke Belt for broken up or obsolete satellites! If this were so, I
> guess these objects would still only show up as point light
> sources moving
> against the stars, but an intersting experiment all the same.
>
> Another problem; more political than technical is the allocation
> of telescope
> time? I very much doubt (unless funded by the military or some
> other influential
> organisation) that time would be allowed to use a multi-million
> $$ installation
> such as the HST that was designed to push out the limits of the
> observable
> universe to search for busted satellites hi :-)
>
> My silly question into this thread would be.... It's a pity that
> AO-40 doesn't
> come into the range of the Space Shuttle? They could 'pick it up'
> return it
> to Earth for repairs then 'drop it' back into orbit again!!!  Nice one :-)
>
> Cheers & 73's
>
> John Mills (EA8/G4STA)
> (Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) - La Palma - Canary Islands)
>
>
>
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Taking a picture of AO40 in orbit?
> > From: "Timothy S. Zibrat" <tzibrat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 09:50:04 -0400
>
>
> > Hello All,
>
> > I'm sure that this question has been asked to ourselves, but I
> haven't seen
> > it on the reflector.
>
> > So here it goes, stupid question #50921:
>
> > Is there anyway that a picture of AO40 in orbit can be taken?
>
> > Is there a powerful enough earth based telescope that can snap
> a pic during
> > perigee?
>
> > Can another satellite that comes within range of AO40 that is actually
> > pointing at AO40 to get an image?
>
> > Is there anyone on this reflector that has access time on the
> Hubble to snap
> > a pic of AO40? :^)
>
> > I know this would be extremely difficult to pull off, but my
> understanding
> > of telescopes/imaging satellites and their imaging capabilities
> is limited
> > at best.
>
> > I've seen pictures on the web of the space shuttle and other
> satellites in
> > orbit, albeit they were fuzzy, I imagine due to the exposure
> times and speed
> > of the object and tracking difficulties.
>
> > I've found software on the web that will track satellites with
> a telescope
> > for imaging purposes.
>
> > I think it would be interesting to see if the damage to AO40
> can be seen in
> > such an image.  And maybe get an idea of the ME from these images.
>
> > I don't have a telescope, but I'm sure there are astronomers on this
> > reflector (probably laughing right now) that have thought about this and
> > discarded the idea due to something I don't know about.
>
> > Please don't flame my ignorance of the limitations of
> astronomy, it's just
> > been something I've been thinking about ever since the "event"
> in November.
>
> > Regards,
> > Tim
> > K3TZ
>
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