Satellite Field Of View Calculator

FOV Equation:

\[ FOV = 2 \times \arctan\left(\frac{\text{sensor\_size}}{2 \times \text{altitude} \times (1 - \text{eccentricity}^2)}\right) \]

Field of View (FOV):

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1. What is Satellite Field of View?

The satellite field of view (FOV) is the angular extent of the observable area that the satellite's sensor can capture at any given moment. It determines how much of the Earth's surface the satellite can "see" from its orbital altitude.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the FOV equation:

\[ FOV = 2 \times \arctan\left(\frac{\text{sensor\_size}}{2 \times \text{altitude} \times (1 - \text{eccentricity}^2)}\right) \]

Where:

\( sensor\_size \) — Physical size of the sensor (meters)
\( altitude \) — Orbital altitude of the satellite (meters)
\( eccentricity \) — Orbital eccentricity (dimensionless, 0 for circular orbit)

Explanation: The equation calculates the angular field of view based on the sensor size and altitude, accounting for orbital eccentricity which affects the instantaneous altitude.

3. Importance of FOV Calculation

Details: Knowing the FOV is crucial for mission planning, determining ground resolution, calculating coverage area, and scheduling imaging operations for Earth observation satellites.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter sensor size in meters, altitude in meters, and eccentricity (0 for circular orbit). All values must be valid (sensor_size > 0, altitude > 0, 0 ≤ eccentricity < 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical FOV for Earth observation satellites?
A: Typical FOV ranges from 1-60 degrees depending on the mission type, with high-resolution satellites often having narrower FOVs.

Q2: How does eccentricity affect FOV?
A: Higher eccentricity means the satellite's altitude varies during orbit, which changes the FOV. The calculator uses the instantaneous altitude.

Q3: What's the difference between FOV and IFOV?
A: FOV is the total angular view, while IFOV (Instantaneous Field of View) is the angular projection of a single detector element.

Q4: Does this account for Earth's curvature?
A: This is a simplified calculation that doesn't account for Earth's curvature, which becomes significant for very wide FOVs.

Q5: How does FOV relate to ground swath width?
A: Ground swath width = 2 × altitude × tan(FOV/2). Wider FOV means wider ground coverage but typically lower resolution.