Tracking satellites
Mozzie is Australian for mosquito. They come out in the evening twilight to take over from the blowies (flies) at family summer BBQ's outside that run on into the late evening. Mozzie's and moths are not the only things to be seen flying overhead in the evening
- J-Track Satellite Tracking
can be used to track dozens of satellites including the Space Shuttle and Hubble space telescope. - J-Track 3D lets you see what they look like from space but this time in three dimensions. This looks absolutely fantastic with satellites buzzing around like a cloud of mozzies as you roll the planet Earth around in the palm of your hand.
Use J-Track 3D to try and spot the don't shape belt of geostationary satellites that orbit above the equator and the ISS that skims around at the edge of space. When I get back to school after this summer break, I will again make it a requirement for my Research Science class and GLOBE project students to spot the ISS (International Space Station) on its next fly over Melbourne.
We can track the flyover schedules for particular satellites at any location using Heavens-Above. The website has opened a fascinating new activity. Idle family guests would stare up at a star filled southern sky and spot a satellite, wondering what it might be. I would sneak a look on my Palm PDA to report its exact name, host nation and next sighting. This is done using an AvantGo channel that regularly publishes the information for off-line viewing by PDA users. Its a lot of fun and these observations can be recorded online. I have not had much luck trying to spot an Iridium satellite flare but have made occasional observations of the ISS.
The set-up really impressed my father. He nearly wouldn't give me back the PDA after taking it home to try out for a couple of nights.
(* slaps another mozzie *)