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

[Achim Vollhardt <avollhar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi guys,

check this out:

http://www.tsm.toyama.toyama.jp/curators/aroom/satellite/index.htm


I guess AO-40 isn't so much smaller than the small dimension of the
solarpanel, and I guess AO-40 will reflect more than such a panel..
perhaps they should try!

73s Achim, DH2VA

"Timothy S. Zibrat" wrote:
> 
> 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
> >
> > ----
> > Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
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> 
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