Satellite Viewing and Tracking

AUTHOR:

ROBIE Group

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:

9-12; physical science & Physics

TECHNOLOGY LEVEL:

Moderate (Internet)

CURRICULUM STANDARD:

SI-H-A3

PS-H-A1

PS-H-E1
PS-H-E2
PS-H-E4
PS-H-F1
PS-H-F2
PS-H-G1
PS-H-G2
PS-H-G3

ESS-H-D6
ESS-H-D7

OVERVIEW:

Using knowledge of satellite motion, vocabulary and using a set of calculated data, students will be able to predict motion and view the satellite moving across the sky. In addition, be able to listen to its beacon via web radio.

OBJECTIVES:

The student will be able to...

Use satellite motion knowledge to find and observe a satellite orbiting Earth
Determine time of AOS of satellite
Determine time of LOS of satellite
Determine location of satellite in sky including horizontal & vertical angular measure (azimuth & elevation respectively)
Identify when satellite is "visible" by eyesight or radio communication
Use calculated data to predict location of satellite
Convert from UTC to local time & vise-versa

RESOURCES-MATERIALS:

Heavens Above Web Site - Good site to find current satellite information. Set up with your latitude and longitude.
http://www.heavens-above.com/main.asp?
WinOrbit computer program
http://www.sat-net.com/winorbit/
Robie Radio Web Site information
http://www.bro.lsu.edu/radio
Use of Keplarian elements and understanding of its terms.
http://www.sat-net.com/winorbit/help/kepkeplerianelements.html

PROCEDURES:

Become familiar with Heavens Above website. It is easy to use, but you need to be able to instruct students on its use.
Set your location to the proper coordinates from database available on the website.
To become familiar, choose a satellite and click around

Example: To choose satellite AO-27.

Click "Select a satellite from the database"
Type "AO-27" in SATELLITE NAME box...SUBMIT.
At SEARCH RESULTS page, click on your satellite.
View all information, then above "orbit pole view" click "passes"
View all pass information.
Click "orbit" from menu.
View orbit path and remaining information

Choose a few satellites to study from database. Good examples are the AO series of ham radio satellites (AO-27) or NOAA satellites (NOAA-15) or the ISS (International Space Station Alpha)
View the current location of the satellite on the map and track its path.
Using the web radio, listen to the satellite as it comes over your position.

EVALUATION:

Students will be able to achieve success by actual viewing or hearing their satellite.
Evaluate the students' exactness and method of "viewing".
Evaluate students' use of information provided by website.
Evaluate the students' use of terms and concepts.

EXTENSIONS:

Track satellites over an extended period of time.
Use Kepler's laws of planetary motion to predict the future orbit of a selected satellite.