Network: Web Sites - J Track Satellite Tracking http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/realtime/jtrack/
Worried about space junk? This site helps you keep a wary eye on your favourite orbital objects. The progress of the Hubble Space Telescope, Mir and hundreds of satellites - including, for nostalgists, Telstar - is charted against a map of the world, with altitude and position co-ordinates regularly updated and the map modifiable according to weather and visibility data. This Nasa educational project is just as much a Java showoff project, culminating in a 3D model of the earth which can be rotated or even flipped on its axis while Intelsat and the rest continue their - with luck - imperturbable courses. Another page, J-Pass, proves a difficult download but offers localised, earthbound perspectives on the night sky showing where satellite trails may be visible to binoculars or the naked eye.
Send interesting, quirky or even, at a pinch, cool site recommendations to web sites@dircon.co.uk
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