Re: [stellarium] Viewing ISS

[Ron Macnaughton]

Ron Macnaughton: 

Astronauts will soon be heading towards the moon for the first time in 5 decades.    If Stellarium could load the 6 elements of each segment right away,  then people could organize public viewing sessions where people could be shown the departing space craft through telescopes. Amateur astronomers could use Stellarium to know where to point their telescopes from any location.

Ron Macnaughton: 

Obviously it would be brightest near the Earth,  but there are many early burns. This might have to wait after the Trans Lunar Injection burn.  Of course the specific timing has not yet been established. If the elements could be uploaded for each segment,  then it might be possible to actually see a burn through a telescope.  My guess is NASA might publish the new elements soon after a burn. Then somehow either have automatic uploading or an employee might have to be on duty to upload the data.   

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 3/23/26 06:49, Ron Macnaughton wrote:

Ron Macnaughton: 

Astronauts will soon be heading towards the moon for the first time in 5 decades.    If Stellarium could load the 6 elements of each segment right away,  then people could organize public viewing sessions where people could be shown the departing space craft through telescopes. Amateur astronomers could use Stellarium to know where to point their telescopes from any location.

    ...

A few weeks ago there was a similar question about JWST.
The answer was (I'm paraphrasing:)  "No.  Stellarium is
only designed for Keplerian, quasi-two-body orbits.
JWST is a third body significantly affected by both Earth
and Sun.  I fear a lunar expedition will similarly be
affected by  both Earth and Moon, non-Keplerian,and
beyond Stellarium's ability.

-- 
gil

[Ron Macnaughton]

Thanks Paul. I had not thought about that aspect.  Too bad NASA can't send out hourly 6 element data which gets automatically updated.  Then someone using predictions might find it within the field of view.        

 If it works, then future flights with a landing might attract many to see it in the voyage to the moon.  

Sometimes ISS has a burn to raise it.   How long does it take for:

- the new orbit elements are calculated

- posted for planetarium programs

- apps with internet connection get updated?

To me if everything were automated,  that sequence could be fast.     

Ron

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