Richard Fredrick's Homepage
Welcome to my homepage. This is where I'll have information about what
is going on with my interests in Astronomy and Satellite Tracking. I plan
to keep a fairly current list of notable satellites that are visible from
the Kansas City area. I will also try to keep you updated on how my current
Astronomy project, the Messier list, is proceeding. Right now I'm at thirty-one
objects and counting, but I've only logged objects that are visible during
the Summer.
Links to Things I Like to Do
I really enjoy a nice, clear, dark night when I can drag out a pair of
binoculars and my telescope and see what I can find "out there." Actually,
if you are just starting to develop an interest in the night sky, a pair
of binoculars is just the thing to begin with. Take your time and learn
the constellations and some of the "landmark" patterns. Satellites appear
as "stars" that move. Some of them flash in a regular pattern, while others
give off spectacular flares that will be the brightest thing in the sky
other than the Moon. Some of the satellites you can see will be monitoring
our planet's environment or paving the way to a continuous presence in
space. Some of what you see is just space junk like rockets that lifted
a payload into orbit and were left to circle our Earth for years. Some
of them are serving as "eyes in the sky" for various countries.
My Asteroids
Page
My General
Astronomy Page
My Satellite
Tracking Page