Ground Station Visibility
The Visibility tab provides a tool to calculate when and where the satellite will be visible from ground stations around the world.
Understanding Visibility
Satellite visibility (also called “access”) refers to the time windows when a satellite passes above a ground station’s horizon with sufficient elevation for observation. This tool helps operators plan observation schedules by identifying upcoming visibility windows.
The Visibility tab is disabled for satellites that have decayed, as position predictions are no longer possible.
Calculating Visibility
To calculate ground station visibility:
- Navigate to the satellite’s Visibility tab
- Configure the calculation parameters
- Select
SOLVEto run the calculation
Calculation Parameters
Time Range
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Start | Beginning of the search window (UTC) |
| Stop | End of the search window (UTC) |
Constraints
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum Duration | Minimum pass duration to include in results (seconds) |
| Minimum Elevation | Minimum elevation angle above horizon (degrees) |
Higher minimum elevation values filter out low-horizon passes that may have poor signal quality or atmospheric interference.
Ground Station Filter
Select which ground stations to include in the calculation:
- All Ground Stations - Calculate visibility for all registered ground stations
- Specific Ground Stations - Select one or more ground stations from the list
Running the Calculation
Select SOLVE to calculate visibility windows. The calculation may take a few seconds depending on the time range and number of ground stations.
Select RESET to clear parameters and results.
Visibility Results
Results are displayed in an interactive format showing:
Results Table
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Ground Station | The ground station with visibility |
| AOS (Acquisition of Signal) | When the satellite rises above minimum elevation |
| LOS (Loss of Signal) | When the satellite drops below minimum elevation |
| Duration | Total pass duration |
| Max Elevation | Peak elevation angle during the pass |
Sky Plot
For individual passes, a sky plot shows the satellite’s path across the sky as seen from the ground station:
- Azimuth - Compass direction (0° = North, 90° = East, 180° = South, 270° = West)
- Elevation - Angle above the horizon (0° = horizon, 90° = directly overhead)
- Pass trajectory - The path the satellite follows during the visibility window
Use Cases
Ground station visibility calculations support:
- Observation planning - Identifying when to point sensors at the satellite
- Pass selection - Choosing high-elevation passes for better observation conditions
- Multi-site coordination - Planning handoffs between ground stations for continuous coverage
- Tasking optimization - Selecting the best ground stations for collection requests