In the hush-hush, secretive world of space-based spy satellites, few details are publicly available — and groups like the U.S. Space Force, Nati

Caught on camera: Satellite tracker photographs secret spacecraft

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2024-09-20 00:00:03

In the hush-hush, secretive world of space-based spy satellites, few details are publicly available — and groups like the U.S. Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency like it that way.

There's an armada of classified spacecraft assigned an array of vigilant duties. Some intercept radio waves or detect missile launches. Others yield close-up looks at select areas using sharp-eyed optical systems or scan Earth with powerful radar technology.

These high-flying satellites are tempting targets for amateur astrophotographers. Such is the case for space watcher veteran Felix Schöfbänker in Upper Austria. "My images have certainly revealed a few things that either were not known, or only were speculated before," Schöfbänker tells Space.com. 

In the past few months Schöfbänker has caught some classified spy satellites with his 14" Dobsonian telescope, optimized for satellite tracking and imaging from his home. Poring over imagery, he is sharing his results and what those images suggest.

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