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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program

World-wide network of stations responsible for the optical tracking of satellites
Organization research_program Q115731275
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Summary

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program is a research program[1]. It is known by 5 alternative names across languages and contexts.[2]

Key Facts

  • Field of work: astrophysics[3]
  • Instance of: division[4]
  • Item operated: Baker-Nunn camera[5]
  • Part of: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory[6]
  • Archives at: Smithsonian Institution Archives[7]
  • Inception: 1956[8]
  • Dissolved, abolished or demolished date: 1983[9]
  • Parent organization or unit: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory[10]
  • Significant event: International Geophysical Year[11], restructuring[12], cancellation[13]
  • Official name: Satellite Tracking Program[14], Earth Dynamics Program[15]
  • Significant person: Karl Gordon Henize[16], Michael R. Pearlman[17]
  • On focus list of Wikimedia project: WikiProject Smithsonian Names[18]
  • Funder: National Science Foundation[19], National Aeronautics and Space Administration[20]

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [4] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  2. [3] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  3. [5] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  4. [6] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  5. [7] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  6. [8] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  7. [9] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  8. [10] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  9. [11] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  10. [12] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  11. [13] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  12. [14] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  13. [15] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  14. [16] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  15. [17] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  16. [18] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  17. [19] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.
  18. [20] ↑ . Guide to the Smithsonian Archives. wikidata.org.

Class ancestry

  1. [1] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [2] ↑ . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory-satellite-tracking-program
MLA “Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 13 Oct. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory-satellite-tracking-program.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory-satellite-tracking-program_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory-satellite-tracking-program}, note = {Accessed: 2026-10-13}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program — https://4ort.xyz/entity/smithsonian-astrophysical-observatory-satellite-tracking-program (retrieved 2026-10-13)

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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 9h ago · BornOnTheCob · 2026-10-13 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Item operated → Baker-Nunn camera
    Funder → National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Field of work → astrophysics
    Official name → {'lang': 'en', 'text': 'Satellite Tracking Program'}, {'lang': 'en', 'text': 'Earth Dynamics Program'}
    + 12 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ On focus list of wikimedia project: WikiProject Smithsonian Names, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1791918931218"
Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.