Finding satellite positions by the sun.

allan238

Okay, I have been in denial for a couple of months now since moving to a Bungalow.
Between Trees, branches and flats I am able to see little bits of sky and I want/need to do a bit of experimenting.
I believe that at 12 noon GMT the sun is pointing approximately due South. Could anyone tell me at what time the sun would be pointing at 19.2 East and at Hispasat.
At least I should be able to get some idea of what could be possible, and that is before the leaves come on the trees At best it will have to be a fixed position, but at least it would be something.
What is it with this hobby? I have Tivo working away in the background and I never watch half of what it records, yet here I am desperate to start playing around again.
After years of indulgence and pleasure of European Satellite it would be nice to hear and view some of those channels once again.
Incidentally, living in hopes, Would I get Hispasat here in Wiltshire with, say a 60cm dish, or would it have to be 80cm?
There you go, In my mid Seventies and starting to really shock my elderly neighbours.........this is Crystal set close along here....wish I never had to move, how I miss my 1metre motorised setup.

rolfw

Hi Allan, can't help with the positions of the sun I'm afraid, but Hispasat should be good with a 60cm dish, you are better placed than those of us North and East of you and I can pull it in with a minidish in Berkshire.

Glad you've not lost the bug.

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spiney

There's this, don't know how good it is .......

http://perso.numericable.fr/~gjullien/satellite.htm .

A lot easier (approx) with a compass, and using Web sat bearing calculators for exact location. If it's difficult to tell, that might mean the trees are going to slowly "grow across" your dish!

ouagadougou

To do a comparison of desired satellite azimuth angles and the suns azimuth I would recommend the demo version of a program called "NOVA".

It will do it all for you but you will spend a bit of time getting it all working accurately and updating its satellite database with the current NORAD elements. The biggest problem with the demo version is that you cant store your config settings so you have to get it right first time so to speak.

Very very good program for anyone interested in tracking orbital objects and the proffessional version is used by NASA.

Cheers.

Oily

Sun,what's that??????

Sir Bronking

nice easy way, make your self a "sundial"

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patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
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allan238

Well with all these suggestions, even if I can't get a clear view of a satellite I'm going to have a lot of fun trying.
Thanks guys.
Allan.

rolfw

How far West are you Allan?

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johnsattuk

Sun moves @ 15deg/hr relative to earth, I think

http://www.satellite-calculations.com/

The 'Look-angle' calculator gives time of look angle & Sun azimuth coincidence for different sats. from a given location

Oldgeezer

johnsattuk

24 hr one might be more accurate

Oldgeezer

Kiteflier-1

Hi guys,

Try this web site:

http://perso.numericable.fr/~gjullien/satellite.htm

You input your latitude and longitude along with the satellite you are interested in and it returns a list of times for when the sun or moon is in the same location. This happens exactly only twice a year near the equinoxes, and we've just passed the spring one, but you can use the time the sun is at the satellite azimuth and note that the sun will be slightly higher than the satellite. For accurate latitude and longitude, I got mine from www.heavens-above.com just choose the option to select your location from the database. And while you're there, you can get a timetable to see satellites in low earth orbit.

Neil

allan238

Once again, thanks for all the good advice. Unfortunately my elderly brain refuses to go back to school.
Studied the various sites and finally decided that my inteligence and mathematical prowess are virtually nil

However looking around at the kit I have available. Echostar via 3000,
another Echostar non via and a M-Vision FCIS 7000, plus assorted cams, including the beautiful Dragon complete with cards going back to Genesis, not forgetting the Elvis and a couple of Cas 2. I just can't let it go to waste.
I remember many years ago just sticking a dish on the wall and twiddling until I finally found 19.2 East and some free sky channels. Those were the days!

Anyway there you are, when the weather gets nicer the fun begins, come to think about it, these old dears around here could do with a good laugh, and what funnier way than me deciding to ignore all technical aspects and go the religious way a la Maradona and hand of god
I am going to get hold of a cheap dish and LNB, strap it to the wife's or my
Zimmer frame, and have one of us walk around the postage stamp patio until I get some sort of signal.

WHY? I only wish I knew

The saga continues.
Allan.

johnsattuk

Hi Allen

If you give me your Lat. & Long. I'll look it up, and tell you the times

John

PS Taking Bristol as location, which is probably near enough for what you want to do

Astra 10:49:23
Thor 12:14:33
Hispasat 14:18:44

Oldgeezer

Sir Bronking

Quote:
Originally Posted by bronking
nice easy way, make your self a "sundial"


have a look at thread title Finding satellite positions by the sun.

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

Sir Bronking

allan, nice sunny day here in cheshire so.........
if it's the same where you are (do a bit of blue peter)
print the attachment i did in earlier post
put paper flat on table or floor outside with sun shining on it,
hold pencil vertical on centre dot at noon ,
twist paper round until noon is pointing at sun
then the 2 red lines will show you roughly where 19E and 30W are

the wife will thankyou for not straining her back

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

johnsattuk

Have a look @ Alan's post [quote - Could anyone tell me at what time the sun would be pointing at 19.2 E & 30 W]

Oldgeezer

Sir Bronking

your just being pedantic now

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

Sir Bronking

allan have alook out side at 2 0'clock you'll not be far off 30W

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

slcartaxo

what position do i put the sat if i want to see nagra 2 in new jersey " cranford" to be exact,,

Sir Bronking

allan redone if youve still got time

Attached Thumbnails

 

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

Sir Bronking

here's a better one

Attached Thumbnails

 

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

Jeff_19341

@ bronking

She's holding the dial too high up , please re-do.

Sir Bronking

i would if i could, (that's the missus,she never listens) i'll do another later

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)

allan238

@ johnsattuk. Your coordinates were just about right. Thank you.
@ bronking. As for the Sundial, quite ingenious, and it works

Surprising how we can can get satisfactory results with a little help and some friends.
At least I know where the satellites are and already have a resonable view to 28.2 East so with luck 19.2 East will also be viewable. Trees are still a problem, thirteen of them, but most of the lower limbs have been lopped off, so you never know. Sadly though Hispasat appears to be blocked by a tree trunk.

I think I will get one of those see through dishes like rolf has, I know they are dearer but if it can be less obstrusive all the better.
Let's just get some decent weather and I will take the next step to satellite heaven.
Allan

Sir Bronking

you can get see through trees (if u use a chainsaw )

patience is not a virtue, its a godsend.a picture is worth a thousand words
polite notice: do not hijack threads,do not double post,
search and ye shall find (before you ask)