Rare Image Starlink V1 Shark-Fin-Configuration

[ralfvandebergh]

Starlink brightness mitigation configurations are well-optimized so that only the satellite bus can be seen from the ground and the solar array(s) are invisible.

In some rare occasions, more then just the Starlink satellite bus in operational orbit can be seen from the ground. Here we see a part of the (actually very faint) solar array sticking out from the flat plate V1 bus (Starlink-3933) to the Zenith (Shark-Fin-Configuration). The viewing angle is as that we see the bus from below and a part of the array is visible on top in this ground-based image.

As the visible part of the solar array is very faint, and the exposure is adjusted to that, a large part of the brighter bus is overexposed. But also still a part of the bus shows some detail.
The (rarely) visible part of the array is so faint that it doesn't further play any significant role in the total brightness of the satellite.

Please click on image for full resolution or: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=61948.0;attach=2337121;image

Ralf Vandebergh


https://x.com/@ralfvandebergh

https://satellite-imaging.jouwweb.nl/selected-project-samples-best-works

[ralfvandebergh]

General view of a V1 satellite in operational orbit - Only the bus is visible. (Note the visible detail on the bus).

[ralfvandebergh]

Another V1 bus operational orbit general view. So without visible solar array. (Credits: R. Vandebergh)

[cpushack]

makes the 'ends' (top and bottom edges in your pics) look slightly different compared to the previous picture

[ralfvandebergh]

Realize you are looking from more then 500km through an atmosphere - & different illumination & different viewing angles.

Width of the satellite bus is only 1.3 meters, so it's a pretty small scale you're looking at. At that scale there are small differences per image very quickly, also.

The angular image scale is often added to the picture (see the first 2 pictures). Scales used here are from 1.0 arcsecond to 0.5 arcsecond. Telescopes have limitations also.

[ralfvandebergh]

Updated processing. Click image for full quality/resolution or https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=61948.0;attach=2338595;image

[ralfvandebergh]

It's not always easy to explain the imaging level of certain ground-based imagery. The following example may help;
This image-set explains how good the left image actually is. To the right for comparison is a 'general' frame, this is what you usually got, and this is already one of the better frames you got from a session.

The second smaller set shows some more general frames with the same details

[ralfvandebergh]

This is one more improved processing to point at - and that especially shows a well-defined view - one of the edges of the satellite bus in front of the solar array. (in fact more a shadow effect). It is a very delicate observation, remember this is no space station but something of a very small size. Imaging aperture: 0.25m / fully manually
tracking on visual sight.

Please enlarge image for full quality view.

[StraumliBlight]

https://twitter.com/Digantarahq/status/1925204579249201615

🛰️Captured mid-orbit: Starlink 4621, moving at 7.5 kilometers per second. Taken from just 35.8 kilometers away at 0.17 meter per pixel resolution.

[ralfvandebergh]

Starlink V1.5 Dish Antennas captured in operational orbit

This set of telescope images show different Starlink V1 satellite busses in operational orbit were clearly one or both dish antennas on the 2 sides of the bus are captured. It is the part of the satellite that you see illuminated by the sun in the Digantara space-based image in the previous reply. The negative set is an intentionally lowered quality to equalize the sharpness of both the ground-based image and the space-based image a bit and then the similarity of detail looks even more accurate.

Please note:
The comparing space-based deployment image shows the wrong surface (zenith-side). Detail on the bus surface can not be compared to that of the ground-based image.

I really think to have maximized the possibilities of the equipment here. (25cm telescope using manually tracking).

Full resolution -or click image:
https://spaceweathergallery2.com/submissions/pics/r/Ralf-Vandebergh-StarlinkV15_Satellite_Dish_Antennas_1755861700.png


Ralf Vandebergh

https://satellite-imaging.jouwweb.nl/selected-project-samples-best-works