What apps do you use to find satellites?

[TommyJ]

What apps do you use to find satellites? Does anyone here use such applications?
My app only finds the ISS. It would be interesting for me to try to see artificial satellites with the naked eye.
After all, there are more and more of them.
No joke, there should be about 58,000 satellites by 2029

 

[Janos Konya]

ISS is big enough to see but others are much smaller...
You can use this page for aiming with a telescope.

Satellite Observing Opportunities

Search for times when satellites will be visible from any observing location on Earth.

in-the-sky.org

They can be observed when sunlight still reaches them (they are not in the shadow of Earth)

 

[TommyJ]

Thanks for such a helpful link. Having a telescope is great. Perhaps someday I will have it. With all these new missions and companions, I think there is something to see.
Curious how far we are from Kessler syndrome?

 

[Janos Konya]

I think the phenomenon is a fairly close possibility. Given how much resources would be needed to recover from the consequences, it is time to address prevention as well. Otherwise, outer space will be a useless garbage dump - like the earth’s surface.

 

[TommyJ]

In general, the tools for this are already available. Companies around the world are developing space tugs and other similar devices.
Some of them are completely ready for use. It remains only to start using them without violating any agreements on outer space.
So there is hope.

 

[Janos Konya]

As for my modest information, there are mostly experimental tools only - with limited abilities and theories.
Big chunks of non-working pieces can be redirected for self destruction in the air so that they burn before touching the surface. Some of them need some help for navigating them towards the final direction and this is where we have some theoretically working idea.
But, what about the tiny particles and their extreme high speed? I did not read about a brandnew space-litter "turbo" chaser.

 

[TommyJ]

As far as I know, magnets in space do not lose their properties. Why not use this? I have not heard of such developments either.
But Skyrora and a few other companies have some news about working and already tested prototypes.
True, these are quite compact devices. I wonder if this will be used anytime soon.

 

[Janos Konya]

As far as I know, magnets in space do not lose their properties.

Just a few materials would react to a magnetic field - from a really small distance, having similar speed and direction at the same time.
What would do a "space-cleaner" machine when it experiences an unfriendly hit by a scrumb of trash when it travels at speeds of many thousands of km/h speed? I think, we should send a second cleaner to get rid of the fregments of the previous one. (LOL)

 

[TommyJ]

I agree. For the device to work correctly with a magnet, it will be necessary to synchronize the speed and direction of movement of the device with the fragments. And this task can be more costly than losses from collisions with particles.
Nevertheless, we already have some tested (on Earth, of course) space tugs. Like the space tug Skyrora. The main task of such devices now is to correct the trajectory of satellites, as far as I understand. We just have to wait until they are first used. And only after that it will be possible to draw some conclusions about where we will move on.

 

[Janos Konya]

SPACE TUG can keep the satellites in orbit or the appropriate deflection in the direction of the atmosphere. Obviously, the structure must be durable in order to remain operational even in adverse conditions.
However, long-term efficiency may be questionable. Let’s say the structure helps keep 2 or 3 satellites in orbit - then runs out of fuel. Then both the assisted satellites and the tug become space projectiles - potential space junk. It delays the appearance of the effects of the problems, but does not eliminate them.

 

[TommyJ]

Some devices of this type will be able to refuel satellites. In general, I fantasize that someday there will be something like the ISS, only for satellites and space tugs. So that you can refuel and service everything that is in orbit.
It would be interesting to see how this should work as conceived by the authors.

 

[Janos Konya]

A space-fuel station is not a bad idea but:
- what about the compatibility in connections with previous and future satellites? Not to mention the made and purpose... China, USA, France, etc. - communication, weather, military(!)
- The biggest problem is that the debris from collisions that have already occurred, as well as the "bolts and tools" lost by astronauts, will continue to be dangerous projectiles.

 

[TommyJ]

I think engineers will deal with the problem of compatibility faster than the problem of fragments. But also, if it were advisable to make such a station at all, then someone would have already started development. I have not heard of anything like this.
Perhaps they will think about it when the work on the placement of the base station on the moon is going on.

 

[Retsub]

Here in Texas I use "Heavens-Above.com" it works extremely well and once you get it set up you can also easily add other locations to it for accuracy and quickly select them. Please start out with easy to see things and no equipment is is needed other than your decent eyesight and a dark location. Lots of other features like planets. Good luck with it. Thanks. *BW*

 

[John Hutchison]

Windows I use gpredict and HamRadioDeluxe. Android I use AmsatDroid, Heavens Above, ISS Detector, and my favorite Look4Sat.