Trevor Paglen
2008
Nine Reconnaissance Satellites over the Sonora Pass

C-print
60 x 48 ins
 
Provided by the artist - Trevor Paglen
Courtesy of the artist.
 
This image is a four hour time lapse exposure of the northern sky over the Sierra Nevada. Visible in the sky are at least ten satellites, nine of which are American and Russian reconnaissance satellites. From brightest to faintest, they are:
 
LACROSSE/ONYX 5 (Radar Imaging)
LACROSSE/ONYX 4 (Radar Imaging)
LACROSSE/ONYX 2 (Radar Imaging)
KEYHOLE/IMPROVED CRYSTAL/USA 116 (Photo Imaging)
COSMOS 2227/TSELINA 2 (Electronic Intelligence Gathering)
KEYHOLE/ADVANCED CRYSTAL/USA 186 (Photo Imaging)
COSMOS 2406/TSELINA 2 (Electronic Intelligence Gathering)
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (Civilian Scientific Satellite)
COSMOS 1626/TSELINA D (Electronic Intelligence Gathering; Inactive)
COSMOS 1975/TSELINA D (Electronic Intelligence Gathering; Inactive)
 
In addition to these satellites, there are numerous airplane trails in the image. They can be distinguished from satellites because they display a series of dots along their paths.
 
LL/43067