Astronomy For Everyone

I love astronomy, and so I have added 3 tools to GeoView that help visualize common concepts regrading Astronomical Geodesy (Astrogeodesy):

1) Polar Motion Tool - Displays the earth's polar motion - the shifting of the Earth's rotational axis relative to its crust, causing the geographic poles to wander slightly over time.

This motion includes two main periodic wobbles: the Chandler Wobble (about 14 months) and an annual oscillation, which together trace a spiral path around the mean pole position.

The phenomenon is driven by changes in Earth's mass distribution—like melting ice sheets, glacial rebound, and mantle convection.

Over the 20th century, the spin axis drifted roughly 10 meters due to these processes. Though subtle, polar motion affects precise astronomical measurements and must be accounted for in navigation and satellite systems.

Polar Motion Tool

2) Satellite Coordinates Tool - Displays the main coordinate Systems used in Astronomy:

- Geographic Coordinate System (GEO): Used to locate positions on Earth's surface.

- Geocentric Earth-Fixed (ECEF): A 3D Cartesian system fixed to Earth’s rotation. Used for Satellite tracking relative to Earth, ground-based radar systems.

- Earth-Centered Inertial (ECI): A non-rotating frame used for orbital dynamics. Used for Satellite orbits, space missions, physics-based simulations. ECEF vs. ECI: ECEF rotates with Earth, while ECI remains fixed relative to the stars. Transforming between them requires accounting for Earth’s rotation.

- Keplerian Orbital Elements: Describe the shape and orientation of an orbit in space. They're ideal for modeling elliptical orbits around a central body (like Earth or the Sun).

Satellite Coordinates Tool

3) Satellite Ground Los - Displays Los Visibility from a Ground Station to a Satellite at different times along its orbit .

The visibility is important to determine when commands can be uploaded to the satellite, and data can be downloaded from it.

Satellite Ground Los Tool

In the following video, you can see all three tools in action ...

P.S: turn on your speakers to enjoy the sound track :-)

Astronomy Tools Video