The Flat Earth Society

Flat Earth Discussion Boards => Flat Earth Debate => Topic started by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 02:42:17 PM

Title: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 02:42:17 PM
I really wanted to stay away from this forum, but this topic has really piqued my interest.

Here is an issue that hit me during the course of the day:

Satellites & the ISS:

Since, under FE theory, sustained space travel is impossible, how do FE'ers explain the fact that satellites can be seen in the sky in regular orbital patterns that fit perfectly into the RE model? Furthermore it is easily possible to get orbital data of the International Space Station and thus predictably spot it in the night sky. Anyone can use this site (http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/) to check when the ISS will be visible for them at any given time, anywhere on Earth. Yes, yes, that's a NASA site - but the fact remains that the data given there is accurate and that the ISS can actually be seen floating across the night sky at the given dates.

Here is a summary of the hard facts:

- The ISS definitely exists, as anyone with eyes can verify.
- Anyone with access to a telescope can see that the ISS is not a plane and, due to its shape, could never "fly" as a normal plane does.
- The ISS is constantly in the air and never "lands".
- The flight path of the ISS fits perfectly into an orbital model according to RE theory.

I would be interested in hearing an explanation for the existence of the ISS according to FE theory. Of course, you guys consider NASA to be the core of some huge conspiracy, but then that would mean that they are somehow faking the existence of the international space station. Considering the facts that we have on the ISS, this does not seem likely - and even if it were so, the effort to do this would be phenomenal. So why even "pretend" do build it in the first place? The only logical explanation at this point seems to be that the ISS is indeed orbiting a spherical Earth.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 02:54:13 PM
Yeah. It's easy to take a picture of them through a telescope. Here's one I took in my backyard. Or NASA took somewhere. I don't remember which.

(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/FlatEarthSki/iss-d3.jpg)
*photo compliments of FESSA
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 03:00:11 PM
Yeah. It's easy to take a picture of them through a telescope. Here's one I took in my backyard. Or NASA took somewhere. I don't remember which.

(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/FlatEarthSki/iss-d3.jpg)
*photo compliments of FESSA


Unfortunately I sold my telescope a few years back, due to a waning interest in astronomy - otherwise I would be happily snapping pics of it myself. Thanks for providing an example.

My point still stands though: since FE theory does not allow for sustained space travel, how can the perpetual presence of the ISS in the sky be explained in a working FE model?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 03:05:40 PM
How do you know that the light in the sky is in space?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: NTheGreat on June 29, 2008, 03:13:14 PM
Quote
How do you know that the light in the sky is in space?

You can triangulate the position if you so wish. The results may be a little lower assuming a FE, but they will still suggest it's a good few hundred kilometres above us.

Of course, the other main reason it can't really be in the atmosphere is that it's going at about 27,700 m/s, and would burn up/fall to pieces/run out of fuel in a fairly short space of time.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: ghazwozza on June 29, 2008, 03:14:09 PM
How do you know that the light in the sky is in space?

Here's what I said on another thread:

Plenty of man made devices move through the sky. You must prove:

- That what you see is a space ship.
- That what you see is sitting beyond the atmosphere of the earth.
- That the device is moving at the speeds claimed by NASA.

This object is clearly moving very fast, because it travels around the world in 90 minutes (visit any satellite tracking website). If we transform the ISS's orbit onto a FE map we get this:

(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/ghazwozza/ISSorbit.png)
The yellow ellipse is the ISS's orbit.

If we estimate its size, it's roughly a circle 20,000km across, which means it travels 20,000*Pi km in 90mins which gives a speed of about 40 kms/s.

We can clearly see through a telescope that the object is not aerodynamic and it is not glowing due to atmospheric friction. Therefore, it must be above the atmsphere.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 03:15:25 PM
How do you know that the light in the sky is in space?



From my vantage point I obviously can't tell how high up the ISS is. The official figure is ~335km, which one person can not easily verify alone. But I am sure if two people got together and measured the exact position of the ISS at the same point in time, its height could be calculated easily. Considering that accurate positional data is provided, even that could be used to get fairly good data on the actual height of the ISS, assuming you either trust the source, or verify that the data is correct.

Given that, I think it's safe to assume that the ISS is in fact in space.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: ghazwozza on June 29, 2008, 03:23:35 PM
Right, so it seems safe to assume that the ISS is in space, in sustained orbit.


*** This destroys FET completely. ***


You FE'ers had better come up with some answer for this pretty quick, because this looks to me like final and damning proof that the Earth is not flat.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 03:28:05 PM
I know. That picture I took is proof that the lights in the sky are the space station.

(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/FlatEarthSki/iss-d3.jpg)
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 29, 2008, 04:31:21 PM
Its not lights *plural* its light.  And can be predicted with 100% accuracy in a round earth model. And can be seen with even the modest of telescopes.  If you can train the telescope on it long enough.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 04:33:26 PM
Now there is only one light in the sky?    ???
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 29, 2008, 04:39:01 PM
Now there is only one light in the sky?    ???

When it comes to the ISS?  Yes.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 04:41:42 PM
Do you know how many times I went out with my telescope in my youth and did not see what I was looking for?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 29, 2008, 04:43:18 PM
What were you looking for?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 05:12:51 PM
All kinds of things. This was before the days of the internet. You had to get star charts or books/pamphlets about satellite flyovers, comets, planets, etc.  There is plenty of room for operator error. Not even accounting for weather. The last thing an observer thinks when he misses a pass is "It's not there." They attribute it to any of the other causes that might cause them to miss the event.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Tom Bishop on June 29, 2008, 05:22:12 PM
Quote
From my vantage point I obviously can't tell how high up the ISS is. The official figure is ~335km, which one person can not easily verify alone. But I am sure if two people got together and measured the exact position of the ISS at the same point in time, its height could be calculated easily.

So the only way to know if the ISS is in space is through a hypothetical parallax experiment no one has ever conducted on the ISS?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: cbarnett97 on June 29, 2008, 06:34:41 PM
Quote
From my vantage point I obviously can't tell how high up the ISS is. The official figure is ~335km, which one person can not easily verify alone. But I am sure if two people got together and measured the exact position of the ISS at the same point in time, its height could be calculated easily.

So the only way to know if the ISS is in space is through a hypothetical parallax experiment no one has ever conducted on the ISS?
Well if you believe in your theory so much you could do the experiment to provide some good solid evidence that you are right. and right after that you can take your telescope and take some pictures of some kids at that beach 33mi away.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: cbarnett97 on June 29, 2008, 06:36:46 PM
I will help you a bit. I used monterey as my location because I am pretty sure that is roughly where you are at
THE FOLLOWING ISS SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRI JUN 27 TO WED JUL 09
SATELLITE LOCAL DURATION MAX ELEV APPROACH DEPARTURE
 DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)
     
ISS Sat Jun 28/05:23 AM 2 20 10 above S 20 above SE
ISS Mon Jun 30/04:36 AM 3 21 14 above S 12 above E
ISS Tue Jul 01/05:00 AM 3 88 17 above SW 38 above NE
ISS Wed Jul 02/03:51 AM 2 20 20 above ESE 11 above E
ISS Wed Jul 02/05:23 AM 3 25 11 above W 19 above N
ISS Thu Jul 03/04:14 AM 2 87 63 above SW 29 above NE
ISS Fri Jul 04/03:05 AM < 1 11 11 above E 11 above E
ISS Fri Jul 04/04:37 AM 3 24 16 above WNW 16 above NNE
ISS Sat Jul 05/03:28 AM < 1 29 29 above NE 23 above NE
ISS Sat Jul 05/05:01 AM 2 11 10 above NW 10 above N
ISS Sun Jul 06/03:51 AM 1 24 24 above NNW 18 above N
ISS Mon Jul 07/02:42 AM < 1 12 12 above NE 12 above NE
ISS Mon Jul 07/04:14 AM 2 11 10 above NW 10 above N
ISS Wed Jul 09/03:27 AM < 1 10 10 above NNW 10 above NNW
     


Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 10:27:53 PM
Quote
From my vantage point I obviously can't tell how high up the ISS is. The official figure is ~335km, which one person can not easily verify alone. But I am sure if two people got together and measured the exact position of the ISS at the same point in time, its height could be calculated easily.

So the only way to know if the ISS is in space is through a hypothetical parallax experiment no one has ever conducted on the ISS?


Well, it's the only way we can easily verify it, yes. And the beauty of it is that anyone can do it with a bit of team work. All we need to do is find two people willing to work together to find a common time when the ISS is visible for them, check that the given coordinates for that time are correct, and then we can do the math. This could even be done multiple times if necessary to satisfy the skeptics.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Tom Bishop on June 29, 2008, 10:37:19 PM
Quote
Well, it's the only way we can easily verify it, yes. And the beauty of it is that anyone can do it with a bit of team work. All we need to do is find two people willing to work together to find a common time when the ISS is visible for them, check that the given coordinates for that time are correct, and then we can do the math. This could even be done multiple times if necessary to satisfy the skeptics.

Let us know when you guys decide to get your act together and organize this experiment.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 10:49:10 PM
Quote
Well, it's the only way we can easily verify it, yes. And the beauty of it is that anyone can do it with a bit of team work. All we need to do is find two people willing to work together to find a common time when the ISS is visible for them, check that the given coordinates for that time are correct, and then we can do the math. This could even be done multiple times if necessary to satisfy the skeptics.

Let us know when you guys decide to get your act together and organize this event.

Since such an event would be relevant to this discussion, I believe it could be organized right here in this thread. People just need to state their location and possible ISS sighting times, so we can find "sighting buddies".  8)

I'm located in Germany near Braunschweig (no, I'm not german), and my sighting data is:

(http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r212/LDMDX/sighting_maddogx.jpg)
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Tom Bishop on June 29, 2008, 10:53:03 PM
Quote
Since such an event would be relevant to this discussion, I believe it could be organized right here in this thread. People just need to state their location and possible ISS sighting times, so we can find "sighting buddies".

Actually on second thought, no, your idea will not work. The distance to celestial bodies are triangulated differently depending on whether a Flat Earth or a Round Earth is assumed. For example, simple triangulation can be used to calculate the sun to be 3,000 miles above the earth or 93 million miles above the earth depending on the earth model we assume.

On the distance to the sun on an FE, for example: On March 21-22 the sun is directly overhead at the equator and appears 45 degrees above the horizon at 45 degrees north and south latitude. As the angle of sun above the earth at the equator is 90 degrees while it is 45 degrees at 45 degrees north or south latitude, it follows that the angle at the sun between the vertical from the horizon and the line from the observers at 45 degrees north and south must also be 45 degrees. The result is two right angled triangles with legs of equal length. The distance between the equator and the points at 45 degrees north or south is approximately 3,000 miles. Ergo, the sun must be an equal distance above the equator.

The same data an be used under the assumption of an RE, with a little extra trig to account for the curvature between the points, to calculate the sun to be 93 million miles away.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 11:02:51 PM

I'm located in Germany near Braunschweig (no, I'm not german), and my sighting data is:

I've been to Brunswick. It's rather pleasant, though my favourite area of Germany remains Garmisch-Partenkirchen.


Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 29, 2008, 11:04:21 PM
If the two people looking at the ISS were not too far away from each other, say 400-500km, the curvature of the Earth would not be so bad to completely throw the calculations off. No one is expecting the results to be 100% accurate. Since the average height of the ISS is around 335km, the fact that it is in space would still be given, even if the calculations were 150km off target.

While we're getting that together, why don't you provide an alternate explanation to the existence of the ISS?  :)


I'm located in Germany near Braunschweig (no, I'm not german), and my sighting data is:

I've been to Brunswick. It's rather pleasant, though my favourite area of Germany remains Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Yeah, it's pretty nice around here. Lots of beautiful countryside with clear, dark nights - perfect for spotting objects that defy the FE laws of physics.  ;)
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Tom Bishop on June 29, 2008, 11:15:51 PM
Quote
If the two people looking at the ISS were not too far away from each other, say 400-500km, the curvature of the Earth would not be so bad to completely throw the calculations off.

Actually over 311 miles (500km) the spherical earth would drop about 12.2 miles in height. Here's the math:

(http://www.drakeu.org/enag/uploads/earth_pothag.jpg)

Suppose that the earth is a sphere with a radius of 3,963 miles (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=radius+of+the+earth++in+miles&btnG=Search). If you are at a point P on the earth's surface and move tangent to the surface a distance of 311 miles then you can form a right angled triangle as in the diagram.

Looking over a distance of 311 miles (500km), we can use the theorem of Pythagoras:

a2 = 3,9632 + 3112 = 15,802,090

and when we square root that figure we get a = 3,975.18427245832

Thus your position is 3,975.18427245832 - 3,963 = 12.1842724583199 miles above the surface of the earth.

Hence after 311 miles the earth drops about 12.2 miles.

Now, I'm aware that there's involved math to more accurately calculate this sort of thing over long distances. If anyone can provide a more accurate method let me know.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 29, 2008, 11:48:54 PM
My math left me with a rather shorter "drop".
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 30, 2008, 02:09:16 AM
I only know how to calculate the height of the "bulge" or hill between two points on Earth (RE). Lets assume that the Earth is a sphere with a radius of 6371km and a circumference of 40041,47km (mean values, taken from Wikipedia). Let's further assume that our two points are 500km away from each other.

(http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r212/LDMDX/earth.jpg)

Here's a small pic I whipped up. Sorry for the bad image quality. Anyway, what we can easily calculate is the height of the hill (h2) between two points on a spherical body. When looking at the image above, we can see that the two points on the surface and the center of the sphere create an Isosceles triangle. Using this knowledge, we can do the following (still assuming that both points are 500km apart):

Calculate angle A:

500 / 40041,47 = 0.012487 - or ~1,25% of the Earth's circumference which in degrees is:
0.012487 * 360 = 4,49532° - which is our angle A

Next, we want to calculate the height (h1) of our Isosceles triangle. This can be done with the following formula (source (http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/formulas/faq.triangle.html)):

6371km * cos(A/2) = 6371km * cos(2,24766) = 6371km * 0,999230638806..... = ~6366,09834km

Now that we have h1, we can use it to calculate h2 by subtracting h1 from the radius of our sphere:

6371km - 6366,09834km = 4,90166km

So, the "hill" between two people on (RE model) Earth who are 500km apart would be almost 5km high.

This whole thing can be put into a single and pretty simple formula to calculate the "height of the curvature hill" between any two points on (RE model) Earth, assuming the distance between those points is "D":

Quote
hill height = 6371 - cos(D / 40041,47 * 180) * 6371

I know this is not directly relevant to spotting the ISS, but it may be interesting as a basis for further calculations.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Gunnar on June 30, 2008, 03:41:38 AM
Quote
Well, it's the only way we can easily verify it, yes. And the beauty of it is that anyone can do it with a bit of team work. All we need to do is find two people willing to work together to find a common time when the ISS is visible for them, check that the given coordinates for that time are correct, and then we can do the math. This could even be done multiple times if necessary to satisfy the skeptics.

Let us know when you guys decide to get your act together and organize this experiment.

If we do and the results confirm the existence of the ISS and its claimed altitude, will you then admit that the world is indeed round?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: General Douchebag on June 30, 2008, 03:44:28 AM
Only if it's repeatable.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 30, 2008, 05:43:35 AM
Quote
Well, it's the only way we can easily verify it, yes. And the beauty of it is that anyone can do it with a bit of team work. All we need to do is find two people willing to work together to find a common time when the ISS is visible for them, check that the given coordinates for that time are correct, and then we can do the math. This could even be done multiple times if necessary to satisfy the skeptics.

Let us know when you guys decide to get your act together and organize this experiment.

If we do and the results confirm the existence of the ISS and its claimed altitude, will you then admit that the world is indeed round?

No, they most likely won't. If a bunch of us do manage to get together and verify that the ISS is actually in a sustained orbit, the FE proponents can simply choose not to believe us - and then we are back to square one. Still, I'd like to give it a try out of pure scientific interest.


Only if it's repeatable.

The experiment is not only repeatable, but the setup is already known. If you have the means of trying it, why not give it a go?

I've already contacted an acquantance of mine who lives in southern Germany (near Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg). With a bit of luck, I'll be able to get the it verified this Sunday.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: General Douchebag on June 30, 2008, 06:21:00 AM
Well, let's wait. I don't have the means, before you say it.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Rig Navigator on June 30, 2008, 07:27:44 AM
Actually on second thought, no, your idea will not work. The distance to celestial bodies are triangulated differently depending on whether a Flat Earth or a Round Earth is assumed. For example, simple triangulation can be used to calculate the sun to be 3,000 miles above the earth or 93 million miles above the earth depending on the earth model we assume.

Tom, you are losing your touch.  You are supposed to wait for us to finish the observations and post the results.  Then you are supposed to jump in and tell us that we assumed a spherical Earth for the calculations.


Quote
On the distance to the sun on an FE, for example: On March 21-22 the sun is directly overhead at the equator and appears 45 degrees above the horizon at 45 degrees north and south latitude. As the angle of sun above the earth at the equator is 90 degrees while it is 45 degrees at 45 degrees north or south latitude, it follows that the angle at the sun between the vertical from the horizon and the line from the observers at 45 degrees north and south must also be 45 degrees. The result is two right angled triangles with legs of equal length. The distance between the equator and the points at 45 degrees north or south is approximately 3,000 miles. Ergo, the sun must be an equal distance above the equator.

What if you aren't at 45° latitude on that day does the math still work?

I will save the time since that is the way that this thread is working.  You are right Tom, it does save time waiting for a response that we all know the answer to... it doesn't.

Here is data from our local noon position observation on 21 June...

Vessel Latitude - 28° 01.3' N
Sun Declination (Latitude) - 23° 26.3' N
Observed Altitude of the Sun - 83° 56.9'

Because of the fact that at Meridian Passage (Local Apparent Noon) the body being observed is directly south of your position, it is one of the best time to make an observation.  You can use one sight to determine your position.  It also happens to be the time that Mr. Rowbatham's observations were made...

Quote from: Rowbatham
The base line in any operation being horizontal and always a carefully measured one, the process becomes exceedingly simple.  Let the altitude of the Sun be taken on a given day at 12 o'clock...


Now my distance from the Sun's declination (the point where the Sun would be directly overhead) is is 363 nautical miles (417 statute miles).

Using planar trigonometry the equation would be...

Tangent of the observed = (altitude of the Sun)/(Distance from the Sun's declination)

or

Tan 83° 56.9' = (Altitude of the Sun)/363

or

Altitude of the Sun = Tan 83° 56.9' * 363

or

Altitude of the Sun = 3424 nm (3938 statute miles)

This is off by over 20% from the results that are used for 45° of difference in latitude and a observed height of 45° (21.1% to be exact).  That is a significant difference in the altitude of the sun.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: ghazwozza on June 30, 2008, 07:40:53 AM
Quote
Since such an event would be relevant to this discussion, I believe it could be organized right here in this thread. People just need to state their location and possible ISS sighting times, so we can find "sighting buddies".

Actually on second thought, no, your idea will not work. The distance to celestial bodies are triangulated differently depending on whether a Flat Earth or a Round Earth is assumed. For example, simple triangulation can be used to calculate the sun to be 3,000 miles above the earth or 93 million miles above the earth depending on the earth model we assume.

On the distance to the sun on an FE, for example: On March 21-22 the sun is directly overhead at the equator and appears 45 degrees above the horizon at 45 degrees north and south latitude. As the angle of sun above the earth at the equator is 90 degrees while it is 45 degrees at 45 degrees north or south latitude, it follows that the angle at the sun between the vertical from the horizon and the line from the observers at 45 degrees north and south must also be 45 degrees. The result is two right angled triangles with legs of equal length. The distance between the equator and the points at 45 degrees north or south is approximately 3,000 miles. Ergo, the sun must be an equal distance above the equator.

The same data an be used under the assumption of an RE, with a little extra trig to account for the curvature between the points, to calculate the sun to be 93 million miles away.

What if we look at people at 90°N or 90°S? Well, the sun is at an angle of 0° for them, and 90°at the equator. Therefore, assuming a FE, the sun must be touching the ground! No-wonder Africa is so hot, eh?

Quote
If the two people looking at the ISS were not too far away from each other, say 400-500km, the curvature of the Earth would not be so bad to completely throw the calculations off.

...

Hence after 311 miles the earth drops about 12.2 miles.

Now, I'm aware that there's involved math to more accurately calculate this sort of thing over long distances. If anyone can provide a more accurate method let me know.

Well, surprisingly, your maths is correct, and this is the mst sensible way to calculate this "drop".

However, I'm not sure how this would affect triangulation, especially if the two trig points were relatively close together (say, a few tens of km's).
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on June 30, 2008, 10:52:48 AM
Yeah. It's easy to take a picture of them through a telescope. Here's one I took in my backyard. Or NASA took somewhere. I don't remember which.

(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/FlatEarthSki/iss-d3.jpg)
*photo compliments of FESSA
Oh yeah, because making the claim that amateurs who see and/or photograph the space station are all liars in cahoots with NASA is SUCH a strong argument.  Come to a florida star party or public viewing and I'll show you just how wrong this claim is in person.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on June 30, 2008, 10:56:12 AM
All kinds of things. This was before the days of the internet. You had to get star charts or books/pamphlets about satellite flyovers, comets, planets, etc.  There is plenty of room for operator error. Not even accounting for weather. The last thing an observer thinks when he misses a pass is "It's not there." They attribute it to any of the other causes that might cause them to miss the event.
How many of those who suffer from "operator error" calculated the pass on their computer and bothered to sync their watches to atomic time?  And weather?  And for the love of god, since when does cloud cover count as proof that "it's not there"?  You wouldn't expect to see it even if it WAS there!  Ski, the champion of intellectual dishonesty.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on June 30, 2008, 11:03:21 AM
Quote
Since such an event would be relevant to this discussion, I believe it could be organized right here in this thread. People just need to state their location and possible ISS sighting times, so we can find "sighting buddies".

Actually on second thought, no, your idea will not work. The distance to celestial bodies are triangulated differently depending on whether a Flat Earth or a Round Earth is assumed. For example, simple triangulation can be used to calculate the sun to be 3,000 miles above the earth or 93 million miles above the earth depending on the earth model we assume.
That's because the baseline necessary for such a calculation of the sun's position is HUGE, therefore the differences of flat/curved earth will greatly affect the result.  The baseline needed for the ISS is relatively small, even a few miles will do, so the difference between an assumed flat and an assumed curved earth will be small as well. Sorry Tom, this excuse will not work in this case because ISS is relatively close to the observer (relative to the sun, moon, etc).  In fact, if you're trying to observe the ISS passing in front of the sun (if you attempt to do this without proper protection, don't blame me for going blind), your corridor for being able to see it happen is only a mile or two wide.  That's how quickly and how drastically parallax will change the apparent position of the ISS.  With the use of two telescopes you could use observers who are only separated by a few miles to see the effect of parallax and calculate the distance.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on June 30, 2008, 11:09:06 AM

I've already contacted an acquantance of mine who lives in southern Germany (near Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg). With a bit of luck, I'll be able to get the it verified this Sunday.
If anyone else is interested in doing this I live in florida and will be attempting to view the station tomorrow morning about about 5am, weather permitting.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: the_flutist on June 30, 2008, 11:41:57 AM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 30, 2008, 11:46:22 AM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.


Planned mass hysteria. Good one. ::)
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: the_flutist on June 30, 2008, 11:52:37 AM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.


Planned mass hysteria. Good one. ::)

 Seriously, there isn't any good proof that either exist.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: cbarnett97 on June 30, 2008, 12:03:07 PM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.


Planned mass hysteria. Good one. ::)

 Seriously, there isn't any good proof that either exist.
Even if you do not have a telescope just look up when the ISS is passing overhead and you will hopefully see a star moving across the sky, so go ahead and tell us what that was
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: the_flutist on June 30, 2008, 12:05:34 PM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.


Planned mass hysteria. Good one. ::)

 Seriously, there isn't any good proof that either exist.
Even if you do not have a telescope just look up when the ISS is passing overhead and you will hopefully see a star moving across the sky, so go ahead and tell us what that was

 How do you know it's the ISS? How do you know that it's not a shooting star or a meteor?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 30, 2008, 12:14:22 PM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.


Planned mass hysteria. Good one. ::)

 Seriously, there isn't any good proof that either exist.
Even if you do not have a telescope just look up when the ISS is passing overhead and you will hopefully see a star moving across the sky, so go ahead and tell us what that was

 How do you know it's the ISS? How do you know that it's not a shooting star or a meteor?


Telescope. Functional brain. Both required.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: NTheGreat on June 30, 2008, 01:27:11 PM
Quote
How do you know it's the ISS? How do you know that it's not a shooting star or a meteor?

A meteor looks nothing like the ISS from Earth. Meteors are very fast and very brief. The ISS is slower (Although still very fast, much faster than all but the lowest planes I've seen going overhead) and tends to be visible for much longer.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 30, 2008, 01:40:45 PM
How many of those who suffer from "operator error" calculated the pass on their computer and bothered to sync their watches to atomic time?  And weather?  And for the love of god, since when does cloud cover count as proof that "it's not there"?  You wouldn't expect to see it even if it WAS there!  Ski, the champion of intellectual dishonesty.

So you've honestly never missed the object that you went out to view that night (ISS or satellite)?

Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: cbarnett97 on June 30, 2008, 02:18:39 PM
Satellites and the ISS don't exist. When you see them, they are just figments of your imagination.


Planned mass hysteria. Good one. ::)

 Seriously, there isn't any good proof that either exist.
Even if you do not have a telescope just look up when the ISS is passing overhead and you will hopefully see a star moving across the sky, so go ahead and tell us what that was

 How do you know it's the ISS? How do you know that it's not a shooting star or a meteor?
Shooting stars steark across the sky for a very short time while the ISS will be a point in the sky that moves across it pretty quickly
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on June 30, 2008, 02:27:17 PM
How many of those who suffer from "operator error" calculated the pass on their computer and bothered to sync their watches to atomic time?  And weather?  And for the love of god, since when does cloud cover count as proof that "it's not there"?  You wouldn't expect to see it even if it WAS there!  Ski, the champion of intellectual dishonesty.

So you've honestly never missed the object that you went out to view that night (ISS or satellite)?
Not counting weather, I've never missed the ISS or shuttle when I've gone out to view them.  In some cases I fail to get my telescope set up and focused in time for the pass, or my computer gives me the blue screen of death just before the pass, but even when that happens I still end up visually seeing the ISS pass overhead visually right on time, on the predicted path, every time.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 30, 2008, 03:00:42 PM
How many of those who suffer from "operator error" calculated the pass on their computer and bothered to sync their watches to atomic time?  And weather?  And for the love of god, since when does cloud cover count as proof that "it's not there"?  You wouldn't expect to see it even if it WAS there!  Ski, the champion of intellectual dishonesty.

So you've honestly never missed the object that you went out to view that night (ISS or satellite)?
Not counting weather, I've never missed the ISS or shuttle when I've gone out to view them.  In some cases I fail to get my telescope set up and focused in time for the pass, or my computer gives me the blue screen of death just before the pass, but even when that happens I still end up visually seeing the ISS pass overhead visually right on time, on the predicted path, every time.


Which is obviously an illusion. Or a figment of your imagination. Or maybe NASA is projecting a holographic image of a space station and all other fake orbital objects into the sky - that's probably the most likely explanation. Don't forget that all the planets you can see are also not really orbiting around the sun, even though the (almost) universally accepted model of the solar system proves this. In fact the other planets of our solar system probably don't really exists. It is much more likely that NASA is projecting them into the sky in order to further convince us of the laughable round Earth hoax.  ::)

</sarcasm>
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 30, 2008, 03:17:34 PM
I tend to think all the planets orbit the sun. I'm not sure of it, but am reasonably convinced. I'm rather less convinced that a space station is in continuous free fall around the earth.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: ghazwozza on June 30, 2008, 03:33:13 PM
I tend to think all the planets orbit the sun. I'm not sure of it, but am reasonably convinced. I'm rather less convinced that a space station is in continuous free fall around the earth.

Why? Are you going to offer arguments, or simply state your personal opinion like we give a damn?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 30, 2008, 04:03:48 PM
I tend to think all the planets orbit the sun. I'm not sure of it, but am reasonably convinced. I'm rather less convinced that a space station is in continuous free fall around the earth.

The bigger planets that are further away from the sun, do they orbit around underneath us?  Because if they do not then they would transverse across the front of the sun like Mercury and Venus do. 
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: NTheGreat on June 30, 2008, 04:04:30 PM
Quote
I tend to think all the planets orbit the sun. I'm not sure of it, but am reasonably convinced. I'm rather less convinced that a space station is in continuous free fall around the earth.

So things are allowed to orbit the Sun, but not orbit the Earth?

What do you think of Moons? Do they orbit their host planets, and can things orbit them?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: cbarnett97 on June 30, 2008, 05:52:25 PM
I tend to think all the planets orbit the sun. I'm not sure of it, but am reasonably convinced. I'm rather less convinced that a space station is in continuous free fall around the earth.
???
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Tom Bishop on June 30, 2008, 05:53:52 PM
Quote
Why? Are you going to offer arguments, or simply state your personal opinion like we give a damn?

The retrograde motion of the planets suggests that they are orbiting the sun.

Quote
So things are allowed to orbit the Sun, but not orbit the Earth?

The earth is a very different body for one; it's an infinite (or near-infinite) plane which bisects the universe.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 30, 2008, 06:19:09 PM
The earth is a very different body for one; it's an infinite (or near-infinite) plane which bisects the universe.

Funny stuff. 

Well Tom at least you good for a laugh every now and then.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on June 30, 2008, 06:28:45 PM
I'm not a believer of the infinite plane model, but I'm not sure what's so funny about it.   ???
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 30, 2008, 06:33:18 PM
I just get this picture in my head of this infinately large flat plane with only a small part of it illuminated and/or habitable flying through space faster than light itself.  It just makes me laugh thats all.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on June 30, 2008, 10:18:01 PM
Since there is no gravity in FE theory, why the hell would the other planets orbit the sun?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on June 30, 2008, 10:20:56 PM
Because of their gravitational field, silly.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on July 01, 2008, 12:23:47 AM
Since there is no gravity in FE theory, why the hell would the other planets orbit the sun?
Because of their gravitational field, silly.

Since there is no gravity (and thus no gravitational fields) in FE theory, why the hell would the other planets orbit the sun, silly?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Tom Bishop on July 01, 2008, 12:31:14 AM
Since there is no gravity (and thus no gravitational fields) in FE theory, why the hell would the other planets orbit the sun, silly?

Gravity does not exist in FET, but Gravitation does. There's a difference.

Gravitation is just defined as the physical attraction of bodies. Magnets will "gravitate" towards each other, for example. Gravitation does not imply the mechanism of attraction; just the physical attraction of bodies.

Gravity is a specific underlying mechanism for Gravitation (bending of space-time/graviton particles/a force).

Learn more about the difference between Gravity and Gravitation here: http://theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=19384.0

It's clear that Gravitation (the attraction of bodies), exists in the universe to some degree, and is why bodies can orbit each other. But the specific underlying mechanism for Gravitation is unknown to present human knowledge. However, I've always suspected that the mechanism for Gravitation in the universe is electromagnetic in nature.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Jack on July 01, 2008, 03:32:15 AM
Since there is no gravity (and thus no gravitational fields) in FE theory, why the hell would the other planets orbit the sun, silly?
Because planets don't orbit around the Sun in the FE theory, silly.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on July 01, 2008, 03:39:07 AM
The retrograde motion of the planets suggests that they are orbiting the sun.
Because planets don't orbit around the Sun in the FE theory, silly.

Needs more consistency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consistency).
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: ghazwozza on July 01, 2008, 03:47:08 AM
But the specific underlying mechanism for Gravitation is unknown to present human knowledge.

No, you reject the well-known mechanism with no other reason than that it conflicts with your beliefs.

However, I've always suspected that the mechanism for Gravitation in the universe is electromagnetic in nature.

Would you like to expand on this? How does it explain the motion of the stars around the North pole, and how does it explain the motion of the planets (especially their retrograde motion).
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: NTheGreat on July 01, 2008, 06:08:43 AM
Has anyone saying the planets orbit the FE Sun ever bothered to look at the motion of said planets? All the superior planets are no closer to orbiting the Sun in a FE model than the Moon is. I also suspect that the inferior planets may have to pass so close to the Sun as to be passing through it during a transit.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Jack on July 01, 2008, 07:52:59 AM
The retrograde motion of the planets suggests that they are orbiting the sun.
Because planets don't orbit around the Sun in the FE theory, silly.

Needs more consistency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consistency).
Please, review the FE diagram before you even debate.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Rig Navigator on July 01, 2008, 08:08:48 AM
Please, review the FE diagram before you even debate.

Can you please provide a link to this diagram so we are all using the same information?  I just looked on the FAQ and there is no information about whether planets orbit the sun or not.  Within this one thread there have been two contradictory answers, so you can understand if people get confused.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: General Douchebag on July 01, 2008, 08:20:21 AM
ENaG.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Rig Navigator on July 01, 2008, 08:35:16 AM
ENaG.

Earth is Not a Globe does not mention what planets are circling.  Here is the description for retrograde motion...

Quote from: Rowbotham in Earth is Not a Globe
All the orbits are above the earth; and whenever a spectator stands in such a position that a planet is moving from right to left, he has only to wait until it reaches the end or part of its orbit nearest to him, when, as it turns to traverse the other side of the orbit, it will, for a time, pass in a direction to which the line of sight is a tangent. A good illustration will be found in an elliptical or circular race-course. A person standing at some distance outside the course would see the horses come in from the right, and pass before him to the left; but on arriving at the extreme arc they would for a time pass in the direction of, or parallel to, his line of sight, and would, therefore, appear for a time not to progress, but on entering the other side of the course would appear to the spectator to move from. left to right, or in a contrary direction to that in which they first passed before him.


and here is the diagram...

(http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5814/retrogrademotiondiagramfe2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)


Neither of these gives a answer to the question about which standard should be used for arguments.  Do the outer planets orbit the Sun or are they in independent orbits around a central point above the Earth?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: General Douchebag on July 01, 2008, 09:12:38 AM
Can you see them orbit the Sun? Is that what we see? No. So no.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Rig Navigator on July 01, 2008, 09:28:15 AM
Maybe that needs to be added to the FAQ so everyone has the same information and confusion is prevented in the future.  We can't expect people to stumble onto this thread when it is on page 20 or so of the topics, and it probably won't come up on a search unless you are very specific on your search terms and willing to wade through a significant number of posts.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on July 01, 2008, 09:49:19 AM
Can you see them orbit the Sun? Is that what we see? No. So no.

Actually... it IS what we see - transit of Venus from 2004:

(http://home.comcast.net/~fxmurphy/VenusTransit.gif)
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Rig Navigator on July 01, 2008, 10:17:31 AM
Based on the fact that we have been told that FE planets "orbit" around a central point...

The following diagram is in The Earth is Not a Globe as shows the orbits of at least the outer planets...

(http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5814/retrogrademotiondiagramfe2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)


Since this diagram pretty much matches the "orbital" description for every flat Earth celestial body (Sun, Moon and stars all "orbit" a central point), why don't we observe retrograde motion for any of these other bodies?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: uglykidjoe on July 01, 2008, 12:30:14 PM
Can you see them orbit the Sun? Is that what we see? No. So no.

Actually... it IS what we see - transit of Venus from 2004:

(http://home.comcast.net/~fxmurphy/VenusTransit.gif)

Hey, check me out, I can post unattributed, animated gif images too!

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b362/inherently-evil/Web%20Junk/crotchkick.gif)

Unsourced, animated gif images are useless to this discussion. 
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on July 01, 2008, 12:33:28 PM
How about a whole shitload of videos.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=venus+transit+across+sun&search_type=&aq=f (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=venus+transit+across+sun&search_type=&aq=f)
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: NTheGreat on July 01, 2008, 12:46:33 PM
Quote
Hey, check me out, I can post unattributed, animated gif images too!

The .gif has little to do with it. It's more the fact that Venus does transit the Sun, behaving differently to all the superior planets.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: General Douchebag on July 01, 2008, 01:18:49 PM
It doesn't show that at all! It's just a loop of a black thing blocking a big orange thing then moving.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: uglykidjoe on July 01, 2008, 02:46:11 PM
Which was my point exactly.  I thought it would be more obvious, but I guess people were distracted with my own animation. 
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: General Douchebag on July 01, 2008, 02:58:16 PM
It is a fun animation.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on July 01, 2008, 05:21:21 PM
So Venus doesn't transit across the sun?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: NTheGreat on July 01, 2008, 05:50:25 PM
It doesn't matter what the .gif shows. If you will interpret it as nothing more than 'a black thing blocking a big orange thing then moving', then so be it. Venus still transits the Sun. I would have imagined that a fair number of people here caught the 2004 transit, although I imagine that a large portion of you here are American, and thus were not in a brilliant position to view it.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on July 01, 2008, 06:43:28 PM
They next one in 2012 should be good for us Americans.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: mxmm on July 01, 2008, 06:52:45 PM
I actually really want to buy stuff to see that... Next one after that is in about 200 years I think...
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Rig Navigator on July 01, 2008, 07:00:57 PM
I actually really want to buy stuff to see that... Next one after that is in about 200 years I think...

Probably for a transit of Venus, but there are a pair of Mercury transits coming up relatively shortly after that (2016 and 2019).  They haven't published the predicted paths yet, or at least the US Naval Observatory hasn't.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on July 02, 2008, 08:15:36 AM
It doesn't matter what the .gif shows. If you will interpret it as nothing more than 'a black thing blocking a big orange thing then moving', then so be it. Venus still transits the Sun. I would have imagined that a fair number of people here caught the 2004 transit, although I imagine that a large portion of you here are American, and thus were not in a brilliant position to view it.

Yeah, I managed to catch it, although barely in time.  The sun rose out of early morning cloud cover just in time for me to catch the final seconds from the east coast:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/323287597_decfe858f7.jpg)
It was my first real success at astrophotography.
There, sourced, everyone happy now?
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: MadDogX on July 02, 2008, 08:19:05 AM
Is that Mercury or Venus? Considering the size of sun VS planet in that pic, Mercury and Venus are pretty damn small according to FET.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on July 02, 2008, 08:21:22 AM
All the heavenly bodies are smaller in FET, than in RET.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: messierhunter on July 02, 2008, 08:38:07 AM
Is that Mercury or Venus? Considering the size of sun VS planet in that pic, Mercury and Venus are pretty damn small according to FET.
Venus.  Venus is much smaller than the sun.
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: Ski on July 02, 2008, 09:34:56 AM
It's clearly Venus because Mercury is larger than the sun...
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: uglykidjoe on July 02, 2008, 09:37:44 AM
and all the other planets in the solar system as well. . . they're HUGE!
Title: Re: Satellites and the ISS
Post by: WardoggKC130FE on July 02, 2008, 10:00:52 AM
Im still trying to figure out where the rest of the planets are.  In RET the only two planets between us and the sun are Mercury and Venus.  Thus we see them move across the face of the sun every once in a while.  Very predictably.  The rest of the planets are behind us.  So we don't see them cross the sun like the other two.  In FET all the planets should be between us and the Sun and yet no one ever has recorded such event.  Why is that?  And just for future reference can some one provide what our solar system looks like in FET?