NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ998853
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0045-0685
EISSN: N/A
Satellites You Can See for Homework
Broderick, Stephen
Australian Mathematics Teacher, v68 n4 p30-32 2012
Artificial satellites are easily observed most nights when the weather is fine. The website called "Heavens Above" at www.heavens-above.com will help locate these satellites flying over one's location. It also includes how bright they will appear. The direction of travel of each satellite in the night sky also indicates the type of satellite. For example, astronomical and scientific satellites, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, move west to east. The International Space Station and the space shuttle move southwest-to-northeast or northwest-to-southeast. A north-to-south or south-to-north moving satellite is usually a meteorological or Earth environmental satellite such as Envisat. Finally if a satellite follows a retrograde (southeast-to-northwest) path, it is most likely a spy satellite. This article presents a homework idea that will help students determine: (1) the orbital period, altitude and speed of four naked eye satellites; (2) if various landmarks are visible from the Moon, Space Station or the space shuttle; and (3) the distance to the horizon from the Space Station and the field of view. (Contains 1 table, 4 figures and 2 footnotes.)
Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT). GPO Box 1729, Adelaide 5001, South Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: office@aamt.edu.au; Web site: http://www.aamt.edu.au
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A