Satellite pusher

As a satellite slide one is stereographic projection for the graphical prediction of the passages of earth satellites and their approximate orbit determination referred. The device consists of two circular discs

1. for the stereographic ( i.e. conformal ) mapping of the satellite station used and the geographic coordinate network , as well as
2. for satellite orbits of different orbital inclinations and the time stamps on them.

The lower disk is solid (e.g. made of cardboard), the upper transparent ( Astralon ).

By turning the two disks towards each other, the nodal position of the path published in the data sheets is set on the time scale so that the azimuth and great circle distance can be read from the observation station for constant distances on the path curve .

The method is similar to the use of a rotatable star map , the accuracy of the forecast is about 1 °.

literature

• Nelson Hayes: Trackers of the Skies . Howard Doyle Publ. 1968
• SAO Moonwatch Center: Moonwatch Newsletters 1965/66