Satgen298   Satellite Information Sources   by GM4IHJ          10Dec94
BID of this msg is SGEN298  Please use this BID if you retransmit this msg

As the end of the year approaches this is perhaps a good time to review
some information sources available to Satellite users. Noting that this
year there has been a marked shift to electronic sources . 
 BOOKS    Space Radio Handbook published by RSGB Cranborne Rd Potters Bar
          Herts EN6 3JE England UK
          Satellite Experimenters Handbook published by ARRL Newington Con
          06111 USA

AMATEUR RADIO PACKET     Regular weekly bulletins from :-
          Space News by KD2BD  reporting Amsat and NASA Schedules
          Amsat News Service Oscar Status Reports ( always up to date for 
          AO13 ex G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR , but rarely reports other sats )
          Satgen bulletins by GM4IHJ featuring explanations of Operating 
          procedures and Space physics. Full sets of Satgen backnumbers
          are available from GM4IHJ QTHR on 2 HD or 3 DD 3.5inch floppies
          for no charge (donation direct to Amsat appreciated).

          At roughly monthly intervals , bulletins addressed to EDUC
          feature full descriptions of the status of almost all
          operational amateur satellites

INTERNET    An increasing amount of useful data is becoming available but 
          more would be welcome. There is space here to quote only two
          topics. If you want to see your favourite quoted , please
          packet details to GM4IHJ, for inclusion in future Satgens.

          Get into Internet via your local source (Delphi, Compuserve etc)
          Then select in order . Groups and Clubs . Radio Sig . Int Gopher
          To get a choice of :- ARRL Info Server. Callbook Online . 
          Gateway . Radio Files . IPS Solar Data . Sat Coordinates ( Up to
          date Keplerian Elements of Visuals, Amsats, Glosnass, Gorizonts,
          GPS, Mir, TVSats, Wefax, Shuttle, Misc ).

          OR, at the more sophisticated end of Internet, you can get free 
          downloads as they are produced, of the latest US National Radio
          Observatory maps of the Radio Sky. This will eventually be a
          collection of 2326 4 degree squares showing 80% of the celestial
          sphere (ie everything north of -40 Dec ). Images are FITS format
          and range in size from 2 to 9 Mbs,( so 9600 bps or higher is
          desirable for reasonably speedy download ). To get details of 
          anonymous file transfer process, send your enquiry to jcondon@
          nrao.edu  
          While your average ham may not need to know where Cygnus X1 is.
          Just imagine the status value of being able to report that "EME
          results this weekend were poor in consequence of the co location
          of the Moon and Quasar Markarian 205"

PS. Grateful thanks to all for kind wishes and encouragement over last 5
months or so . Latest medical pronouncements are highly favourable and
normal service should be possible shortly. 73 de John GM4IHJ @ GB7SAN