Contents - Index


Satellite data

You should update the two-line element orbital data files regularly, perhaps every month, from the Web site: www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/  and get the files: resource.txt, stations.txt and weather.txt.  Please note that from April 1st 2005 the data on this site may no longer be available.  Instead, you should register for the Space-Track web site, use my Kepler Manager program to retrieve your data.

Where does the program look for satellite data?

Unless you tell the program otherwise, it will look for satellite data in the same folder as the program's executable - i.e. the same folder as WXtrack.exe.  The program will accept data in either the standard DOS/Windows format with <cr><lf> pairs or UNIX format (those files which don't display properly in Notepad).

What if I want to use data files in an existing folder?

There is an option on the Setup Tab to tell WXtrack where to look for its data.  In this way, you need only keep one regularly updated copy of satellite data on disk and use this for a variety of purposes.

What about duplicated data, and what names are accepted?

There appear to be at least two standards for satellite naming.  WXtrack accepts any legal satellite name, and recognises the forms NOAA 17 and NOAA-17 etc., and METEOR 3-5 and MET-3/5 as equivalent.  When satellites with a duplicate ID are encountered, the one with the most recent Kepler data is used.

There are too many satellites in the Available list

If you find that there are too many satellites in the "Available" list, then you do not need to put all your two-line element files in the same folder.  Perhaps you have a batch job that downloads the data every so often - why not include a command in that batch job to copy just the polar weather satellite files in the WXtrack folder?

What is the two-line element data format?

Dr T S Kelso has articles at http://www.celestrak.com/columns/V04n03/ describing the format of the data (I've not checked this URL recently).  

What extra data can I add?

The file TLEnotes.txt allows you to enter more data about a particular satellite, such as the frequency and power of its transmitter, launch time and a user comment.

How do I track the Shuttle?

Please see the ISS and Shuttle page.

How do I display the satellite orbit data?

Use the View, Satellite orbit data... menu option.