While downloading telemetry from Mir, Kerry Kowalski articulated:
 KK> Yesterday I again heard The HAM guy on the MIR! He said he was over
 KK> TEXAS it was about 12:15 pm in the after noon. Since the 22 of 
 KK> december I've been hearing him from about 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM on
 KK> different days for about 15 to 20 min. each B4 he would fade out. One of 
  KK> the days he was over Iowa & Ohio talking to the W9's & N9's...
 KK> it sure seems like a good catch! At least 1800mi as the crow flys! plus 
 KK> what ever altitude he's at...
  The altitude is a bit over 200 miles, it varies since the orbit is slightly 
eccentric.  If you're really into this kind of monitoring, check around your 
local BBS's and download a program called STSORBIT, whose most recent 
versions are called STSPLUS.  The latest version is 9650 (50th week of 1996), 
and is packaged in two ZIP files, labelled SOP9650A.ZIP and SOP9650B.ZIP (the 
"SOP" stands for TS RBIT LUS).  It is a fantastic program, and will 
tell you exactly where the Mir, or the Shuttle, or just about any other 
satellite is at any moment, via various detailed real-time maps.  There's 
been a recent thread on this here on this Echo, which you may want to scan 
back through for some other details.
 KK> How fast are they movin'???
  Each complete orbit is about 90 minutes, during which they traverse the 
Earth's entire 24,900 mile circumference.   From any given location, they'll 
be within your radio range for maybe ten minutes or so.
 KK> And in what direction... I figure west to east! Am I right... Or 
 KK> maby close??? Like North west to South east???
  Generally from west (might be anywhere from northwest to southwest) toward 
the east (anywhere from southeast to northeast), and - from one pass to the 
next - may go almost straight overhead, or may be low on the horizon, or 
anywhere in between.
  Fido carries an excellent satellite Echo, which you may want to have your 
sysop pick up for you if you're really into this.  With the upcoming Shuttle 
launch and docking with Mir (scheduled for Jan 12 & 18, respectively) there 
should be some good and interesting monitoring to be had.
  Happy listening, and TTYL.
Cheers, Frank
... I am Elmer Fudd of Borg.  You will be assimiwated.  Hahahahahahahaha.
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