Discovering the Mystery of Satellite Shadows: A Beginner's Guide

  • Thread starter Thread starter learningisfun
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sattelite
AI Thread Summary
It is not possible to see the shadow of an artificial satellite from the ground due to the size and distance involved. The sun's angular diameter creates a shadow cone with an angle of about 0.5 degrees. For a satellite like the Hubble, which is approximately 2-3 meters across, the shadow cone extends about 500 meters long. Therefore, one would need to be within 500 meters of the satellite in orbit to observe its shadow. This highlights the significant scale differences between satellites and the sun.
learningisfun
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Another noob qeustion that I do not have the knowledge to figure out.

It's is possible to see the shadow of a sattilte?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
You mean an artificial satellite, rather than the moon (in astronomy moons are properly called satellites)
The sun has an angular diameter of around 0.5 degree so the shadow will form a cone with an angle of 0.5 deg.
Say a satellite is 2-3m across (eg Hubble) then the cone will be 500m long (easy to see if you draw a sketch)
So unless you are in orbit less than 500m from the satellite - no you won't see a shadow
 
oh , that's amazing, the sun is far larger,
*draws out sketch* troginnometry ^.^
 
TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'
This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
Back
Top