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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Short Educational Program on the Work of Navigators. What is The Ephemeris and Almanac?

The processes taking place in modern technology, the user is a mystery. Moreover, the user often they did not care, either not interested or simply do not care. This applies to the navigators. Included - and you know your coordinates. A few finger movements - the route is ready. Sometimes, however, to understand the technical characteristics of the same browser, you must know more than you need just to use it.

So, make a reservation at once: the article will be of interest to those who are not satisfied with the role of an ordinary user "black box with a screen." For those who want to explore all points of the technical characteristics of the device before purchase. For those who enjoy understanding the processes occurring in a variety of devices.

Such people do not say "I do not know" to questions like: "What is on your computer has a processor?". Question-what is essentially an elementary, but you'll be surprised at what percentage of fellow comrades know the answer to it. Try it!

A little about the terms

In every field of science and technology is full of terms. These terms are sound mysterious to the uninitiated, but are, in general, understandable, a closer look.

In theory, satellite navigation system is also a set of terms. Not surprisingly, this sphere of knowledge and is associated with the movement of satellites in near-Earth space, and the reception, processing, signaling, and their coding.

Terms that are useful to be considered is the concept of the almanac and ephemeris. Why are these concepts we are interested in? Yes, because the knowledge of these concepts is based understanding of the "cold" and "hot" start device.

Almanac of modern navigation and not just

Even before the era of satellite navigation concept Almanac already existed. Almanac named directory that contains the basic astronomical data - positions of celestial bodies and their binding to the calendar. One of the oldest almanac is a Chinese book Tong Shin.

Today heralds the appointment has not changed. Only changed the amount of data they contain, and their accuracy. Almanac of satellite navigation - the collection of data on the basic parameters of satellite orbits in the navigation system. The presentation of these data for us, actually, not so important.

Almanac contains six parameters of the satellite's orbit at a particular time. Each satellite system has data on other satellites. Navigator, establishing a link with only one companion, after receiving the almanac has information about the parameters of the orbit, and others. Almanac loaded in the memory of the satellite, valid for 30 days. Nevertheless, these data are specified more often - every few days during a session with one of the ground stations.

Ephemerides

In addition to the basic orbital parameters, the navigator receives from each of their satellites ephemeris, this data, which used to calculate the deviation of the orbit, the perturbation coefficients, etc. That is, with the help of their navigator with high accuracy can locate satellites.

Ephemerides carrying more precise data become obsolete much sooner. Their data are only active for about 30 minutes. They also updated the ground stations.

Without data on the location of navigation satellites can not determine the coordinates of the receiver. Necessary for the entire four satellites. On the singularities of the navigator and the inclusion of a "cold", "warm" and "hot" start, let's talk in the next article.

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