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Mac app for plotting satellite tracks

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RichardF

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Mar 28, 2013, 2:30:46 PM3/28/13
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Windows users have several applications available for plotting satellite
ground tracks with multiple ground stations. One of these is used on one
of the big screens in the control room when we launch ESA satellites. I
was stationed in that control room when we launched CryoSat-2 in 2010
and was frustrated at the lack of an equivalent Mac software for my
laptop.

So I decided to write my own in my spare time over the next half year or
so. My colleagues, who are also using it, urged me to put it on the Mac
App Store. After finding more free time, polishing it up and writing an
extensive user manual, the job is finally done.

I wanted to see the satellite in the sky so I included all the things
necessary for that, such as showing when it's dark at the Earth's
surface and when the satellite is illuminated by the Sun. I even
included an approximation of the cloud cover!

If you're interested check, out SatTrackerBasic on the Mac App Store
(not iPhone or iPad, but Mac). Here's the link to the store:

itunes.com/mac/SatTrackerBasic

I've attached a screenshot of the main window. This is extensively
customisable.

Sorry for the commercial post, but hopefully somebody finds it useful.

cheers,
Richard


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RichardF

Patty Winter

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Mar 31, 2013, 3:14:17 PM3/31/13
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Richard, you can't attach images to Usenet postings, but I looked
at the App Store and your application looks very beautiful and
informative!


Patty

Skywise

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Mar 31, 2013, 4:47:16 PM3/31/13
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RichardF <francisREM...@jw.estec.esa.nl.RemoveThisAsWell> wrote in
news:RichardF...@spacebanter.com:

> Richard, you can't attach images to Usenet postings

He posted from a BBS website that gateways to usenet. He probably
has no idea where his message ended up. Possible he doesn't even
know about usenet (not many do).

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

RichardF

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Mar 31, 2013, 4:32:11 PM3/31/13
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Thanks for looking!

The attachment was to the original post in a forum where attachments are
allowed. The cross-posting to Usenet suppressed it, but it's in the
original.

Anyway, you saw the equivalent on the App Store.

cheers,
Richard


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RichardF
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