Elevation Angle

The elevation angle (or altitude angle) measures how high an object appears above the observer's horizon, from 0° at the horizon to 90° at the zenith (straight up). For satellite observation, elevation determines pass quality: a high-elevation pass (above 40°) brings the satellite closer to the observer and through less atmospheric haze, making it brighter and visible for longer. Low passes near the horizon are dimmer and often blocked by terrain or buildings. Together with azimuth (the compass bearing), elevation pinpoints exactly where to look in the sky, and ground-station antennas use the same angle to decide when a satellite has risen high enough to establish a radio link.