Click the eToolf icon located on the toolbar to open the setting dialog. Select gArtificial satelliteh in the left column to open the artificial satellite setting pane.
Artificial satellite display
The boxes gDisplay artificial satellitesh and gDisplay 3D models of artificial satellitesh are
ticked by default. In principle, artificial satellites are displayed as point images according to
their magnitudes estimated*1.
When ticking the box gDisplay artificial satellite as an icon,h an icon *2 is displayed instead
of the magnitude-base point image.
After ticking the box gDisplay 3D models of artificial satellites,h the 3D models of ISS and
HST can be observed. 3D models are illuminated by parallel rays of light from the direction
of the sun. Dark color shades apply to these models when they are located in the shadow of
the earth.
Satellite display setting screen
Click the eToolf icon located on the toolbar and select gArtificial satellitesh in the left column to
open the setting screen.
A different overlay display color can be customized for each display item as is the case with other
celestial bodies.
The artificial satellitefs name, speed per hour and altitude overlaid on the image appearing
on the screen
In the screenshot above, the desired artificial satellite is activated with its name, speed per hour
and altitude overlaid on its image. LEO (low-earth-orbit) satellites travel at a high speed on the
screen as they are generally capable of circling around the earth within approximately two hours.
Orbital elements update*3
The orbital elements of man-made satellites are updated roughly every week. Older orbital
elements cause significantly inaccurate orbit calculation results. These elements therefore
need to be updated constantly in order to estimate the accurate location of a artificial satellite.
After clicking the gOrbital elements updateh button, the orbital elements are automatically
updated and utilized for artificial satellite orbit calculations.
The orbital elements recorded in StellarWindow were current at the time of the manufacturing
of the installation DVD and may therefore be impractically out of date depending upon
the purchase date.
Connect to the internet when updating the orbital elements.
The orbital elements update screen
The upper part of the progress bar shows the current status of orbital elements update.
The progress bar also shows the status of the orbital elements update in progress.
Orbital elements storage location and applications (for experienced users)
StellarWindow adopts the Two Line Elements (TLE) format to describe the orbital elements*4.
The orbital elements are stored in the following file in the case of the standard installation
on Windows:
C:\Program Files\Fairy Devices\StellarWindow v1.0\Catalogs\tles\visual.txt
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This is a text file that can be edited using text editer such as Memo Pad on Windows or Text Edit
on Mac. Manual editing however is not recommended due to incorrect formatting resulting in
StellarWindow not being able to be launched.
As a result of the addition of an artificial satellitefs TLE formatted orbital elements to the
file above, StellarWindow carries out the orbit calculation for the new satellite and displays
it on the screen. This is useful for users who have independently launched a satellite to view
it with StellarWindow*5.
Please be aware that, after rewriting the file, any changes made
will be overwritten once the gOrbital elements updateh button is clicked.
The number of artificial satellite orbital elements recordable is approximately 100. Stellar-
Window may not be launched if the number of artificial satellite orbital elements recorded
exceeds the above rough estimate.
Orbital elements update URL
The latest orbital elements are downloaded from Celestrakfs URL: (http://celestrak.com/
NORAD/elements/)*6.
This URL is contained in the following text file in the case of the
standard installation:
C:\Program Files\Fairy Devices\StellarWindow v1.0\Catalogs\tles\url.txt
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After this URL has been altered, StellarWindow accesses the newly specified URL when
the gOrbital elements updateh button is clicked. In such a case, a different server is used
when downloading the TLE file and the normal operating condition cannot be guaranteed.
StellarWindow is not able to be launched with a TLE file of a wrong format.
Please note that the TLE file is unable to contain more than a single row.
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*1 Artificial satellite estimated magnitudes
StellarWindow estimates
the magnitude of a satellite
according to the physical
relationship between the
location of the eyepoint,
the sun and the satellite
on the assumption that all
satellites are spheres with
the identical radius. Please
be aware that these figures
are therefore not strictly
accurate and are provided
as referential information.
Furthermore, StellarWindow
determines whether
or not the selected manmade
satellite is located
in the shadow of the earth
and dark color shades
apply when the satellite
is determined as being
located in the shadow.
*2 Artificial satellite icon display
An icon, such as that
shown in the screenshot
above, appears instead of
the magnitude-base point
image. In the screenshot
above, the satellitefs
name, altitude and speed
per hour are overlaid on
the image appearing on
the screen.
*3 Artificial satellite orbital elements
The orbital elements of
artificial satellite consist
of a combination of
multiple numeric figures
designed to describe the
orbit. These elements are
frequently updated due to
artificial satellite orbits
exposed to various effects
in addition to the earthfs
gravity.
ðà [ EBLyfBA ]
*4 TLE format
This is the standard
format used to describe
artificial satellite orbital
elements.
ðà [ NASA ]
*5 Request to users who have independently launched a satellite
We hope that the 3D
model of your own satellite
can be viewed with
StellarWindow. We would
be grateful if you can
provide us with the data of
the 3D model.
*6 Other TLE sets provided by Celestrak
StellarWindow adopts the
list of orbital elements
titled g100 or so brightesth
provided by Celestrak.
Celestrak also provides
various lists such as gLast
30 Daysf Launches,h
gInternational Space Stationh
and gFENGYUN 1C
Debris.h Enjoy!
ON [ Celestrak ]
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English