Precisely calculate satellite look angles (azimuth and elevation) and slant range for your ground station to any geostationary satellite. Our tool simplifies satellite dish alignment and RF link planning, providing essential data based on ground station coordinates and satellite longitude. Get accurate results instantly for efficient satellite communication setup.
Formula:
Formulas Used
This calculator uses standard trigonometric formulas for geostationary satellites:
Δλ(Relative Longitude):|λg - λs|ψ(Central Angle):acos(cos(φg) × cos(Δλ))E(Elevation Angle):atan2(((Rs/Re) × cos(ψ) - 1), ((Rs/Re) × sin(ψ)))A(Azimuth Angle):atan2(sin(Δλ), (-sin(φg) × cos(Δλ)))(adjusted to 0-360°)R(Slant Range):√(Re2 + Rs2 - 2 × Re × Rs × cos(ψ))
Where:
φg= Ground Station Latitude (radians)λg= Ground Station Longitude (radians)λs= Satellite Longitude (radians)Re= Earth Radius (~6378.137 km)Rs= Satellite Distance from Earth Center (Re + h)h= Satellite Altitude (~35786 km for GEO)