Why Does a Satellite, Suddenly Stop Being Visible?

Question

this is a question in my daughters homework. we thought she had correct answer but it was marked wrong. anyone help?

Answer 1

A natural satellite like the Moon, or a man-made satellite like the space station? The Moon stops being visible either because it sets below the horizon due to the Earth's rotation, or because it has moved such that the only part of it that is lit by the Sun's light is the same part that faces away from the Earth. It is a common misconception that the new Moon is caused by the Moon going into Earth's shadow. Actually, the full Moon occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, theoretically where it would be completely in the shadow. Actually, the Moon is offset from the line between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon is positioned perfectly to reflect the maximum amount of the Sun's light back at the Earth. On the rare occasions when the Moon does actually travel through Earth's shadow, we get a lunar eclipse on the night of a full moon.

A man-made satellite can also disappear for the same two reasons. However, its behavior is very different. It is much closer to the Earth than the Moon is, so it is not offset from the line between the Earth and the Sun. In addition, it moves through the sky very quickly compared to the Moon. Thus, it can actually move into the Earth's shadow very suddenly if it is in the correct position.

Answer 2

Satellites are only visible because they reflect the Sun. As the satellite orbits the Earth, it spends some of its time such that the Earth is between it and the Sun; it is effectively in the Earth's shadow. So satellites seem to become invisible when they pass from a sunlit area into the Earth's shadow.

Some satellites may appear to disappear for another reason, namely that they are shaped sort of flat and when they turn so that they're edge-on they reflect much less sunlight. However this would be very rare compared to the above scenario.

Answer 3

Lacking a collision or passing below the horizon, the answer is that the satellite passes into the shadow of the Earth and "goes dark." This happens both with "stationary" (geosynchronous orbit) and moving satellites.

Answer 4

When it passes behind the moon, or the other side of the earth. If you have any interest, try www.NASA. Science.gov. You can bring up some of the satellites and see them revolve.

Answer 5

It travels beyond the horizon of the person viewing when orbiting.

Answer 6

when it moves into the shadow of the earth

Answer 7

false question
it is just so dark and far away that it is extremly hard to see

Answer 8

when its orbiting theotherside of the moon