Why do satellites arcs end abruptly when observed from Earth
I recently got an app that let me track the ISS. I noticed that during the time it's visible, it disappears before reaching the horizon, and sometimes reappears soon after for a bit.
Can somebody explain to me how the ISS and other satellites orbit? Specifically, what makes their visible period such a narrow one, that doesn't span all the way down to the horizon? (which is what my layman brain expected)
orbit artificial-satellite
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
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I recently got an app that let me track the ISS. I noticed that during the time it's visible, it disappears before reaching the horizon, and sometimes reappears soon after for a bit.
Can somebody explain to me how the ISS and other satellites orbit? Specifically, what makes their visible period such a narrow one, that doesn't span all the way down to the horizon? (which is what my layman brain expected)
orbit artificial-satellite
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I recently got an app that let me track the ISS. I noticed that during the time it's visible, it disappears before reaching the horizon, and sometimes reappears soon after for a bit.
Can somebody explain to me how the ISS and other satellites orbit? Specifically, what makes their visible period such a narrow one, that doesn't span all the way down to the horizon? (which is what my layman brain expected)
orbit artificial-satellite
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I recently got an app that let me track the ISS. I noticed that during the time it's visible, it disappears before reaching the horizon, and sometimes reappears soon after for a bit.
Can somebody explain to me how the ISS and other satellites orbit? Specifically, what makes their visible period such a narrow one, that doesn't span all the way down to the horizon? (which is what my layman brain expected)
orbit artificial-satellite
orbit artificial-satellite
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
asked 8 hours ago
Mav
1433
1433
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Mav is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Because satellites are only visible when they are in sunlight, they are not visible when they go into the Earth's shadow. The app most likely predicts where this occurs and ends the arc.
In other words, it does not make sense for an observer to look for a satellite when it is not visible, so there is no need to draw the path when it is in the shadow.
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
1
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
5
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
3
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Because satellites are only visible when they are in sunlight, they are not visible when they go into the Earth's shadow. The app most likely predicts where this occurs and ends the arc.
In other words, it does not make sense for an observer to look for a satellite when it is not visible, so there is no need to draw the path when it is in the shadow.
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
1
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
5
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
3
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Because satellites are only visible when they are in sunlight, they are not visible when they go into the Earth's shadow. The app most likely predicts where this occurs and ends the arc.
In other words, it does not make sense for an observer to look for a satellite when it is not visible, so there is no need to draw the path when it is in the shadow.
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
1
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
5
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
3
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Because satellites are only visible when they are in sunlight, they are not visible when they go into the Earth's shadow. The app most likely predicts where this occurs and ends the arc.
In other words, it does not make sense for an observer to look for a satellite when it is not visible, so there is no need to draw the path when it is in the shadow.
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
Because satellites are only visible when they are in sunlight, they are not visible when they go into the Earth's shadow. The app most likely predicts where this occurs and ends the arc.
In other words, it does not make sense for an observer to look for a satellite when it is not visible, so there is no need to draw the path when it is in the shadow.
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
answered 7 hours ago
JohnHoltz
2,211138
2,211138
1
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
5
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
3
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
5
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
3
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
1
1
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
6 hours ago
5
5
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
More like because it orbits so much closer to the Earth than Moon, there is an "eclipse" (I'm not sure how to call this event) during every orbit.
– NikoNyrh
4 hours ago
3
3
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
@NikoNyrh I like to call it "night" - it's fair because the ISS, for instance, has more in common with a airliner than the moon when it comes to this
– wedstrom
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Mav is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Mav is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Mav is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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