Need to add a historical satellite TLE

[Martin Lewicki]

It is Echo 2 from the 1960s. The Seesat group provide me with a TLE for an epoch in December 1966. I would like to add this TLE to Stellarium so I can run if for the date which I  photographed its trail across the sky back then. But Stellarium has no way to add the TLE. I looked a the Satellite plugging bu it only allows current TLE downloads.

Martin

[JAY RESPLER]

Put that TLE in a separate file.

 Check 'Add all new satellites on update'.

Update from local files choosing that file as source.

Echo will be added.

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/12/26 22:25, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> Put that TLE in a separate file.
>  Check 'Add all new satellites on update'.
> Update from local files choosing that file as source.
> Echo will be added.

>     ...
Is "local files" a menu item that I can't find?  But I have done the
equivalent with a file:// URL such as:
    file:///usr/local/share/satellites/visual.txt
    (directories that I created.)

--
gil

[JAY RESPLER]

Sorry, I didn't remember the exact words.

Open SATELLITE CONFIG

UNcheck 'update..from internet sources'

Check 'on update add all new sats from the selected sources'

Click button,  "Update from files"

Browse your computer, click to open the file containing the desired TLEs.

All new sats will be added to the database.

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/13/26 23:30, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> Sorry, I didn't remember the exact words.
>
> Open SATELLITE CONFIG
> UNcheck 'update..from internet sources'
> Check 'on update add all new sats from the selected sources'
> Click button,  "Update from files"

>     ...
I see no "Update from files"; I clock on "Update now", which
opens a File Manager window, right?

> Browse your computer, click to open the file containing the desired TLEs.
> All new sats will be added to the database.

>     ...
What if one wants a mixture of Internet and local files?

--
gil

[JAY RESPLER]

First do one. Then do the other, choosing the options you want for each.

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/14/26 12:02, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> First do one. Then do the other, choosing the options you want for each.

>     ...
How should I save this to make it permanent?

How should it appear in config.ini?  (Example?)

> On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 1:46:18 PM UTC-4 Paul Gilmartin wrote:
>
> On 4/13/26 23:30, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> > Sorry, I didn't remember the exact words.
> >
> > Open SATELLITE CONFIG
> > UNcheck 'update..from internet sources'
> > Check 'on update add all new sats from the selected sources'
> > Click button,  "Update from files"
> >     ...
> I see no "Update from files"; I clock on "Update now", which
> opens a File Manager window, right?
> > Browse your computer, click to open the file containing the desired TLEs.
> > All new sats will be added to the database.
> >     ...
> What if one wants a mixture of Internet and local files?
>

--

Thanks,
gil

[JAY RESPLER]

I don't know if there is a way to make it permanent. It's a small thing to do so I just update when I need it.

[Alexander V. Wolf]

Well, the URL has standard scheme :)

For local files it looks like file:///absolute/path/to/file

--

With best regards, Alexander

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/15/26 00:58, Alexander V. Wolf wrote:
> Well, the URL has standard scheme :)
>
> For local files it looks like file:///absolute/path/to/file

>     ...
For several years , after advice from developers (Thanks!)
I have done this by editing config.ini.  Can it be done
from GUI?  I can't follow Jay's suggestion:  when I disable
"update from Internet" and select from the File Manager
dialog, nothing happens.

Stellarium 26.1
Version 26.1.0 (64-bit)
Based on Qt 6.9.3
Running on Operating System macOS Sequoia (15.7.4)

Further,  can new satellite sources be added from GUI?

Of course, with a file:/// URL, if I update the file
Satellites "Update now" properly refreshes the
satellites.

--
Thanks again,
gil

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/15/26 10:27, 'Paul Gilmartin' via Stellarium wrote:
>
> Further,  can new satellite sources be added from GUI?
>

I found the control for that.

--
Thanks,
gil

[JAY RESPLER]

When you select UPDATE FROM FILES, a window showing the files on your computer opens. Go to the file you want to update from. Select it and OPEN.

Your data base is updated and any new objects are added.

[Martin Lewicki]

Thank you Jay and Gil for the tips.

Ted Molzcan from Seesat provided this TLE (epoch December 1966) for Echo2.

Echo 2
1 00740U          66358.69370488  .00020331  33394-6  00000-0 0  1465
2 00740  81.4532 240.4707 0208526 314.8728  43.5037 13.41776603141507

I imported it into Stellarium as Jay instructed. Ted Molzcan says it  fits well with the photograph and it does indeed! Here it is in Stellarium. Molzcan determined the time about 12:34UT. Location: Adelaide South Australia 24 December 1966 ACST 22:54

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/19ta5pnvchwkfyluzt1qg/1966-satellite-crop.jpg?rlkey=8x374h34mzkfo5h2nnefsu5oj&st=4t6themb&dl=0

The Stellarium match

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d7m2igwhc17mdvzvkdhaa/1966-Echo-2-stellarium.jpg?rlkey=neudoiyp5dpu0x922ncezrrmm&st=ismpv3w2&dl=0

Echo satellites were passive communication balloon satellites with reflective mylar suface. No wonder they were so bright. I recall it being brighter than Sirius at the time.

Martin