Space Station Spotting
Discussion
I have a pair of binoculars that can magnify up to 40 times and at that level of magnification I can work out (just) that the ISS is "two blobs" rather than just "one blob".
Obviously, what I am seeing are the reflections coming off the two sets of solar panels.
For anything better you would need -
a higher magnification
a sturdy, vibration free mount
and a motor driven tracking capability
I've seen some video footage taken through such sophisticated set ups and it is pretty impressive -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsc80evqJ88
Obviously, what I am seeing are the reflections coming off the two sets of solar panels.
For anything better you would need -
a higher magnification
a sturdy, vibration free mount
and a motor driven tracking capability
I've seen some video footage taken through such sophisticated set ups and it is pretty impressive -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsc80evqJ88
The station circles the earth once every 90 minutes. You will see it if -
i) it comes above the horizon from your viewpoint
ii) it is illuminated by the sun
In the winter, you will be lucky to see it once each time it fulfills the above criteria as the sun goes well below the horizon quite early in the day and we spend a lot of time in the earth's shadow.
In the summer, the sun is never far below the horizon, even late at night, so you are more likely to get illuminated passes each time the ISS pops over the horizon. One night in July a couple of years ago I spotted it four times.
i) it comes above the horizon from your viewpoint
ii) it is illuminated by the sun
In the winter, you will be lucky to see it once each time it fulfills the above criteria as the sun goes well below the horizon quite early in the day and we spend a lot of time in the earth's shadow.
In the summer, the sun is never far below the horizon, even late at night, so you are more likely to get illuminated passes each time the ISS pops over the horizon. One night in July a couple of years ago I spotted it four times.
Eric Mc said:
The station circles the earth once every 90 minutes. You will see it if -
i) it comes above the horizon from your viewpoint
ii) it is illuminated by the sun
In the winter, you will be lucky to see it once each time it fulfills the above criteria as the sun goes well below the horizon quite early in the day and we spend a lot of time in the earth's shadow.
In the summer, the sun is never far below the horizon, even late at night, so you are more likely to get illuminated passes each time the ISS pops over the horizon. One night in July a couple of years ago I spotted it four times.
Thanksi) it comes above the horizon from your viewpoint
ii) it is illuminated by the sun
In the winter, you will be lucky to see it once each time it fulfills the above criteria as the sun goes well below the horizon quite early in the day and we spend a lot of time in the earth's shadow.
In the summer, the sun is never far below the horizon, even late at night, so you are more likely to get illuminated passes each time the ISS pops over the horizon. One night in July a couple of years ago I spotted it four times.
Watched the ISS a couple of days ago with my 10 year old. As inquisitive 10 year olds tend to do, he stumped me with a question.
He said, so when the ISS is at it's highest....where is it directly over :-). I think he's going to be a scientist :-)
...the ISS highest elevation was 45 degrees....so at that point, how far away was it directly overhead ?
Simple Trig I'm guessing, based on the "opposite" of the right angled triangle being the height above earth ISS flies....so what's the answer ? How far above earth does it fly ?
He said, so when the ISS is at it's highest....where is it directly over :-). I think he's going to be a scientist :-)
...the ISS highest elevation was 45 degrees....so at that point, how far away was it directly overhead ?
Simple Trig I'm guessing, based on the "opposite" of the right angled triangle being the height above earth ISS flies....so what's the answer ? How far above earth does it fly ?
At time of writing its 429km above the Earth ( sea level? ) and travelling 7.65 km/s. These figures go up and down according to my nifty ISS Detector app on my tablet, also it has real time mapping so you can see where it is at any minute.
Edited by Captain Ahab on Wednesday 23 April 20:09
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