Satellite Right Acension and Declination Calculations

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on calculating Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (DEC) of satellites using Two-Line Element (TLE) data, specifically for the International Space Station (ISS). Users emphasize the need for understanding the conversion process rather than merely obtaining positional data. Key steps include propagating TLE data from the epoch time to the desired time, which is identified as the challenging aspect of the calculation. Resources such as the Wikipedia page on orbital elements and a NORAD paper on satellite tracking algorithms are recommended for further guidance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Two-Line Element (TLE) format
  • Knowledge of orbital mechanics and propagation techniques
  • Familiarity with trigonometric calculations
  • Basic understanding of Right Ascension and Declination concepts
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the propagation of TLE data using algorithms from the NORAD documentation
  • Learn about orbital elements and their significance in satellite tracking
  • Explore trigonometric methods for calculating RA and DEC
  • Investigate software tools for satellite tracking and position calculation
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, satellite tracking professionals, and anyone interested in calculating satellite positions from TLE data will benefit from this discussion.

isi
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Hi Everyone...

I really want to be able to calculate the RA/DEC of a Satellite from TLE data. For example, the International Space Station (ISS)

Can anyone help to point me in the direction of where to find the claculations I need to perform this conversion from TLE data to RA/DEC?

I would really appreciate any responses to help me solve this conversion calculation!

Many Thanks
 
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I'm not sure how to do it, but would you rather just have the positions given to you? You can get alt-az positions from heavens-above.com
 
May thanks for the reply.. but no I wish to calculate it! :)
heavens above is good and everything but it gives me no understanding :(
Anyone able to help with the calculation from TLE data to RA/dEC?
 
isi,

You will first need to propagate the two or three line elements from the epoch time to the time in question. This is the hard part. Once you have accomplished that, the computation of right ascension and declination is fairly easy.

A paper from NORAD (http://celestrak.com/NORAD/documentation/spacetrk.pdf" ) describes several algorithms of various fidelity that you can use to propagate the state.
 
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