That sounds really amazing! What a cool event and an awesome setup. I can just imagine the excitement when everyone realized this is actually working as the counts racked up.
I have seen a few sats whizz by my field of vision when I've done some observing through my scope, but it's by total coincidence. It's such a surprise when I see one that way that I'm rarely able to track it.
Thanks for the NOSS info. I have yet to see a NOSS sat with the unaided eye, let alone the pair. Every video I've seen shows one NOSS sat following the other. What I saw were 2 sats side by side, approaching together before they diverged in opposite directions.
It is my belief that what looks like "dancing" sats is an optical illusion. I do not believe that the sats are rapidly changing position relative to each other.
Think of the three NOSS sats as affixed to the two tips of the wings and the tip of the nose of a military jet. Now when the jet flies, it most often must point in the direction of motion. Much of the flight time will be spent with the three sats in a plane nearly parallel to the earth's surface (I know it is really a sphere).
Now, let's insert that jet into orbit. It will not "fly" parallel to the ground (but it could change its orientation with a supply of fuel, like the ISS). Let's say we insert the jet into orbit "pointing" at Sirius, and with the two wing tip sats lining up "pointing" at the Andromeda Nebulae. The jet, without fuel burning maneuvers, will continue to orbit in that "pointing" configuration. Eventually, its orbit will deteriorate, and occasionally very small fuel burning maneuvers will be required to "touch up" the orbit.
Now, let us concentrate on how the jet will appear to observers on the earth. Supposing, that at one point, the jet appears to be flying normally, parallel to the ground. About 45 minutes later (all sats in Low Earth Orbit take about 90 minutes to make one orbit), on the opposite side of the earth, our jet will appear to be flying parallel to the ground, but up-side-down, and flying backwards! And, 45 minutes later, our jet/sat will have completed one orbit. It will appear to an observer as flying parallel to the ground, pointing in the direction of motion.
How far ln distance on the earth's surface, from the first observation and the one 90 minutes later? It varies from:
The most, at the equator. At a speed of 25000 miles (~ earth circumstance) in 24 hours (earth rotation speed) how much is covered in 1.5 hours. Left for the students exercise, lol.
to:
nothing at the poles.
So, that distance between observers is dependent on Latitude.
Now, during an orbit that passes directly overhead of the observer, and knowing the direction, and time, that the jet/sats rise above the horizon, the observer, using a pair of IS binos, may pick up a visual two or three minutes prior to the overhead pass. Taking into account the continuing observation after the over head pass, a total observation of 5 minutes is possible. This is 11% of the total "apparent" change that occurs during a half orbit (45 minutes).
Now, visualize your hand (the jet/sat) and a common pedestal globe (the earth). Visualize placing your hand flat above the surface on one side, palm side down. Now pick a point on the wall where your fingers are pointing, and remember it. Visualize where a line passing through the four fist knuckles (pretend sat/jet wing tip to wing tip) intersects two sides of the room. Imagine moving your hand slowly, from the starting point, to a point directly on the other side of the globe, while constantly maintaining the three aiming points. Your hand will end up on the other side, palm up, and moving backwards.
Now, visualize an imaginary race car the can run around the globe under your hand. Observers in that vehicle would see your hand make a 180° back flip. Transferring this concept over to the jet/sat scenario, observers along the overhead pass route would see a slow back flip, rotating on an axis perpendicular to direction of travel.
All of the factors above could cause observers to report who-knows-what type of active motion between the sats, while actually, when viewed from Sirius, and the Andromeda Nebulae, they have not even flinched.
Another rotation factor exists, but its affect is very slow moving, the jet/sat will make one rotation a year, around a line drawn perpendicular to the plane of the earth/sun rotation. This is, of course, due to the earth's trip around the sun.
It would be rare to type as many words as are above without making some serious "mis-speaks", especially considering that I am, at this time, in a local Phoenix area hospital recovering from a severe infection of the lower extremities (Cellulitis?). Lotta serious meds in my blood right now, lol. So I would welcome corrections.
Also, I would like to thank eorange for his question, as it triggered a form of mental exercise that I have not experienced for several years. I forgot how much I miss it.
For those that care (if any), I actually have a title:
Registered Land Surveyor, Arizona (Retired)
