Return to IndexArtificial Satellites (2)
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The stars & planets are not the only objects to be seen in the skies, as there are numerous artificial satellites orbiting the Earth which can be spotted if conditions are right. The most interesting of these from an observer's point of view are the International Space Station (ISS) and were the Iridium communications satellites. I say "were" because the generation that produced visible flares are no longer in service. In this article I explore the visibility conditions for them both and then, in the case of Iridium, delve more deeply into the orbital geometries that produced interesting series of repeat observations. Click on the title to read the article. |