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 Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
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 Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
6
Because they've reached the edge wall.
– Valorum
Dec 27 '18 at 17:48
@Valorum this should be the accepted answer
– Mav
Dec 28 '18 at 8:26
@Valorum good timing?
– Ave
Dec 28 '18 at 8:39
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 Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
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 Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
asked Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
asked Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
asked Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
asked Dec 26 '18 at 16:55
MavMav
22825
22825
6
Because they've reached the edge wall.
– Valorum
Dec 27 '18 at 17:48
@Valorum this should be the accepted answer
– Mav
Dec 28 '18 at 8:26
@Valorum good timing?
– Ave
Dec 28 '18 at 8:39
add a comment |
6
Because they've reached the edge wall.
– Valorum
Dec 27 '18 at 17:48
@Valorum this should be the accepted answer
– Mav
Dec 28 '18 at 8:26
@Valorum good timing?
– Ave
Dec 28 '18 at 8:39
6
6
Because they've reached the edge wall.
– Valorum
Dec 27 '18 at 17:48
Because they've reached the edge wall.
– Valorum
Dec 27 '18 at 17:48
@Valorum this should be the accepted answer
– Mav
Dec 28 '18 at 8:26
@Valorum this should be the accepted answer
– Mav
Dec 28 '18 at 8:26
@Valorum good timing?
– Ave
Dec 28 '18 at 8:39
@Valorum good timing?
– Ave
Dec 28 '18 at 8:39
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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 Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
6
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
17
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
26
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
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 Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
6
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
17
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
26
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
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 Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
6
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
17
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
26
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
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 Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
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 Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
answered Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
answered Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
answered Dec 26 '18 at 18:47
JohnHoltzJohnHoltz
2,4721510
2,4721510
6
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
17
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
26
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
add a comment |
6
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
17
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
26
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
6
6
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
So is it basically like a lunar eclipse, except because the satellite is much smaller, it happens much more frequently?
– Mav
Dec 26 '18 at 18:55
17
17
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
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
Dec 26 '18 at 20:56
26
26
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
@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
Dec 26 '18 at 22:02
add a comment |
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6
Because they've reached the edge wall.
– Valorum
Dec 27 '18 at 17:48
@Valorum this should be the accepted answer
– Mav
Dec 28 '18 at 8:26
@Valorum good timing?
– Ave
Dec 28 '18 at 8:39