Geostationary Satellilte Eclipse Season Nears

[senorpepr]

Here's a reminder that all of the GEO satellites that we access data from will be entering spring eclipse in the next few weeks. As it does each year, eclipse time and the duration will vary for each spacecraft. For most satellites, the spring eclipse will begin in February and last until late March or mid-April.

That will mean a temporary loss of imagery for 1 1/2 to 3 hours each day as the satellites transition into and out of a period of darkness. Most operations are halted to save energy during times of reduced power.

Below are the approximate times each day that each satellite will be in eclipse for the spring transition.

MET-8: 2300Z – 0100Z
MET-7: 2300Z – 0100Z
MET-6: 2300Z – 0030Z
MET-5: 1930Z – 2100Z

GOES-12: 0400Z – 0630Z
GOES-10: 0815Z – 1045Z
GOES-9: 1300Z - 1515Z

Specific start dates and schedules have not been posted on the owner web sites yet. When they are you should be able to access them using the following URLs.

For METEOSAT: http://www.eumetsat.de/en/dps/news/service.html
For: GOES: http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/koz-eclips ... clipse.htm

[hurricanetrack]

Ok- it's called "batteries" and "solar power" to charge those batteries. I will send in $5 to NOAA to add batteries on the next GOES sat that they launch. If we all do that- I think it can be included in the engieering budget.

There's nothing worse than a hurricane making landfall after the eclispe begins. Well, maybe waking up with your face stapled to the carpet would be worse- but how often does that happen?

[chadtm80]

Ok- it's called "batteries" and "solar power" to charge those batteries. I will send in $5 to NOAA to add batteries on the next GOES sat that they launch. If we all do that- I think it can be included in the engieering budget.

There's nothing worse than a hurricane making landfall after the eclispe begins. Well, maybe waking up with your face stapled to the carpet would be worse- but how often does that happen?

One time to many lol