Communication > Satellite Footprint, Satellite Track
Vector > Communication > Satellite Footprint and Track
Params Website: http://www.celestrak.org/
Description
The footprint of a communications satellite is the ground area that its transponders offer coverage, and is calculated here from the satellite's altitude. Note that many satellites have transponders aimed to cover different, more precise areas, so the actual coverage area is different to that shown. The track of a satellite shows its apparent location over the earth's surface: the 'Ground Track'. The anticipated track, and its past track, of length 0-90 minutes, can be added. These parameters, plus the choice of icon, are chosen on the 'Settings Menu > Satellites' page.
These Map Layers are Vector Layers composed of Lines and Labels, so the Style for each of these can be changed as desired by opening the 'Layers Menu', clicking the wanted layer on the left, then clicking the relevant panel controls on the right. Check the checkboxes for 'Communication > Satellite Footprint' and 'Communication > Satellite Track' to show these on the map.
You can choose to display the Satellite Track and Footprint for up to eight different satellites at a time. These are selected and configured from over 6800 available satellites on the 'Settings Menu > Satellites' page.
There is more satellite information and plots available in the Info Bar page 'Satellite Data' (shortcut: IG)), and in the 'Satellite Data' section of the Data Bar.
The 'Satellite Data' section of the Data Bar show a small amount of data for the currently selected satellite: its current Azimuth, Elevation, and Range from the User Position, and the satellite name.
The information in the Info Bar is far more comprehensive: Latitude, Longitude, Azimuth, Elevation, Range, Altitude, Speed, and Footprint Radius. It also shows the date and time of 'AOS' (Acquisition Of Satellite) at the User Location for the next 5 passes where the satellite will be visible at the User Location, with the predicted track shown on a small polar plot of the User's sky. When the satellite is in view, an arrow is added to the polar plot, showing the current direction to the satellite from the User Position, with a countdown timer to 'LOS' (Loss Of Satellite). There is also a countdown timer to the next 'AOS'. The data for each selected satellite is shown in turn. Extra details are added for the selected Satellite: Satellite Number, International Designator, Epoch, Local Sideral Time, Set Number, Inclination, Right Ascending Node, Eccentricity, Argument of Perigee, Drag Term, Mean Anomaly, and Mean Motion.
When available for the current satellite, we also show Uplink/Downlink/Beacon frequency information, plus Mode, Callsign, and Status, thanks to Mineo Wakita JE9PEL at https://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/.
You can also click any of the passes listed under 'Next Passes' to show a small window with an expanded color 3D view of the pass, in a format that is much easier to visualize. The view is centered on your User Location, and shows the arc of the pass in the sky, with a green dot for AOS (Acquisition of Satellite), a blue dot for the Mid Point, and a red dot for the LOS (Loss of Satellite). A yellow line connects the User Location to the Mid Point of the pass. There are two controls: 'Elv' that adjusts the elevation of the plot (2°-90°), and 'Rot' that rotates the plot clockwise (0°-90°).
Note that you can choose to select a satellite on the 'Settings Menu > Satellites' page, but also mark it as 'not-active' by clearing the relevant check-box. Doing this will show the satellite in the rotating list on the Info Bar, but will not plot it on the map.