Satellite Related Software.
Satellite Prediction Software
If you want to set about generating your own predictions for observing then
naturally you'll need some software. What follows is a selection of software
for various platforms with a short description and a pointer to the package
itself.
There are also many utilities for non-prediction
purposes, such as managing files of elements, converting between different
types of elements, and extracting various information from elements.
- Quicksat
Mike McCants' program uses two-line elements
to generate predictions which include an estimate of magnitude. It is text
based, reading the input parameters from a formatted file. A
not-very comprehensive magnitudes file is packaged with it.
- IDSat
Ted Molczan's IDSat assists in the identification of observed satellites, by computing and tabulating close appulses of known satellites relative to the observed time and position. IDSat also lists the direction of travel, angular velocity and estimated prediction accuracy. Subject to the availability of data, it can also estimate the predicted visual magnitude.
- ObsReduce
Ted Molczan's ObsReduce, is an MS Windows program for positional observers, that
reduces observations of satellites relative to the background stars, into their
precise coordinates. Observers identify their reference stars in a simulated binocular or telescope field of view, enter the observed geometry, and the program automatically
produces an observation report in any one of the
standard reporting formats.
- Heavensat
Heavensat shows satellites on local horizon of observer relative to bright
stars in given moment of time. Also available some additional tasks:
passes prediction, calculation of satellites near bright stars,
Sun/Moon/planets transits and Iridium flares.
- WinTrak and TrakSat
Paul Traufler's
program TrakSat generates predictions from two line elements. It also
produces a graphical display of the ground track in various projections
and a plot of the pass against the local (star-filled) sky. Uses GUI
interface under MSDOS.
- SatEvo
Alan Pickup produced a program that computes the decay and re-entry time
of earth satellites.
- Predict
John Magliacane's
free program for DOS (Y2K compliant) generates text based predictions
using two line elements.
- WinOrbit 3.4
This Windows freeware program by Carl
Gregory generates a ground track graphic using two line or AMSAT
format elements. Able to manipulate element sets in the case of delayed
launches. Version 3.4 and earlier versions are also available at the author's web site. Note
that it needs the Visual Basic VBRUN300.DLL
file.
- STSPlus
The late David Ransom's program uses the SGP4 model to produce tabulated
predictions, orthographic views and ground tracks from two line or AMSAT
elements.
- Orbitrack
Orbitrack is an app for MacOS, iOS and Android that’s your desktop and
pocket guide to the thousands of spacecraft in orbit around our home planet.
Orbitrack will tell you when spacecraft pass overhead, show you where to find
them in the sky, let you track them around the planet – and give you the
view from space as seen by the satellite!
- Nova
Information regarding Nova for Windows can be
found at Northern Lights Software Associates.
- Home Planet
John Walker provides a
combination astronomy and sat tracking program for Windows.
- Iridium Flares
Randy John and Rob Matson have separately developed their own DOS programs
that will predict reflective flares from the Iridium satellites. The above
link will take you to their respective links and information on viewing
the Iridium satellites.
- SkyTrack
SkyTrack is software designed for use with ASCOM compatible astronomy
mounts. While the primary use is for tracking earth orbiting satellites,
it also incorporates some other minor but useful tools for amateur astronomers.
SkyTrack makes use of ASCOM drivers and also includes some legacy interfaces
found in the original Satellite Tracker software.
- SATBUSTER
A Windows based graphical satellite tracking program.
- Orbitron
Sebastian Stoff's visual satellite tracking program for Windows.
See also
Wikipedia
- Sattrack
Manfred Bester maintains a web page for commercial versions of Sattrack.
- Predict
John Magliacane's
free program for LINUX (Y2K compliant) generates text based predictions
using two line elements.
- Xsat
Version 1.5
Dave Curry's public domain satellite tracker is an X-based satellite tracker which draws maps of various world regions and plots satellite ground tracks, complete with timestamps. xsat also produces a list of visible orbit passes for a given city, with extensive information on altitude, azimuth, and time. It can also produce a PostScript file which gives a hard copy of all displayed information.
- N3EMO
Actually this is C source code suitable for the core of a prediction
program. Available from any comp.sources.misc archive, volume 11.
- Usat 1.01
A Unix compatible satellite tracking package.
Satellite Related Utility Software
IBMPC
- Element Manager for
Windows
Rick von Glahn developed a Windows 32 bit program that requires Windows 95/98 or NT. It is designed to
manipulate NASA/NORAD "two line elements".
- GEOLong
Ted Molczan's
small DOS program provides the longitudinal order of geosync satellites.
- Vec2tle
Ken Ernandes MS/DOS program
converts a state vector (position, velocity data) to a two line element
set. Can also re-epoch elements or accommodate on-orbit maneuvers. Free
for amateur use.
- KeepTime
2.0
Ulli Hanke has provided a
Windows program (62.4 kbytes) to correct your Windows' PC clock
automatically. For observations in darkness KeepTime generates audible time
signals and messages read from a textfile with time and text to speak. The
clock correction runs on Windows 3.x/95/98/ME, the speech function should
run on all Windows versions.
Additional pages for obtaining satellite prediction software can be found at
the Tracking Programs and TLE
Resources page, and the
Other Satellite Orientated Information page.
Link to the VSO Home Page.
Contact: webmaster@satobs.org