|
HomeTopicsSatellites
Satellites: History, Types and How to View ThemA satellite is a manmade device meant to gather information and transmit data back to Earth as it circles the Earth, other planets or the sun. Because the moon and other celestial bodies that orbit planets are sometimes referred to as natural satellites, the manmade variety of satellites may also be called artificial satellites.
A Brief History of SatellitesWhile science fiction stories have been speculating about artificial space satellites since the late 1800s, the first intellectual look at these space objects came in 1903 with Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's book "The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices." In this academic work, Tsiolkovsky worked out a number of calculations and logistics about how satellites and other space vehicles could realistically fly and operate in space.
Decades later in 1945, Arthur Clarke wrote an article for the Wireless World in which he described how satellites could be used as international communication devices.
A little over a decade later in October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into space. With the launch of Sputnik 1, the Soviet Union initiated the famous Space Race with the United States. Three months later, in January 1958, the United States also launched its first satellite, known as the Explorer 1, into space.
Today, a number of countries, commercial agencies and scientific research companies have satellites in space. While some of these artificial satellites are meant to gather information about our solar system, others are in space to facilitate global communication. Currently, the International Space Station (ISS) is the largest satellite in space.
In this section, we will take a closer look at different types of satellites and the unique functions of each. Our articles will help give you a better understanding of how satellites working in space are currently furthering our modern technologies.
Types of SatellitesHow different satellites work depends on the precise function each will have when it gets to space. Because satellites can work in a number of ways once they are in space, a variety of different types of satellites exist, including (but not limited to):
The life of a satellite in space, as well as how it comes back to Earth, is unique to each different type of satellite.
Viewing SatellitesAmateur and professional astronomers alike can take pleasure in viewing satellites. In general, artificial satellites in space that are visible from Earth are those that orbit closest to our planet or, in more technical terms, are in "low Earth orbit."
We can only see these satellites when they are still reflecting sunlight after dusk. Bright skies during the day, as well as dark skies at night, generally eclipse any light artificial satellites may reflect.
Whether or not you can see a satellite in space on any given day depends on your location and the satellite's path or trajectory. Many Web sites have tools that, once you type in your location, will automatically calculate the path of nearby satellites and tell you when the best times are for viewing satellites.
Resources
Johnson, Robert (May 29, 2006). Observing man-made Earth Satellites. Retrieved January 18, 2008, from the Johnston's Archive Web site: http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/
satview.html.
|
|
Related Products and Services
