ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES by Steve Daubert Observing Geo EYES IN THE SKY Earth is encircled by more than 500 satellites in geostationary orbit. Normally too faint to be seen without a telescope, under the right circumstances a geosat's solar panel directs sunlight earthward, allowing observers to witness the appearance of a bright new "star." 36 OCTOBER 2 02 0 * SK Y & TELESCOPE