Conjunction
In satellite tracking, a conjunction is a close approach between two orbiting objects — a predicted near-miss operators watch in case a collision-avoidance manoeuvre is needed.
Tracking networks screen the catalogue continuously and issue conjunction warnings when two objects are forecast to pass dangerously close.
In astronomy the same word describes two planets or the Moon appearing close together in the sky — a line-of-sight effect, not a real approach.
See it live on Cosmik
Related terms
- Kessler syndrome — Kessler syndrome is a scenario in which collisions between orbiting objects create debris that triggers more collisions, cascading until parts of low Earth orbit become hazardous to use.
- TLE — A TLE (two-line element set) is a compact, standardized text format that encodes a satellite's orbit at a specific moment in two 69-character lines.
