Space Station Spotting

Space Station Spotting

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Discussion

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
For those interested, the International Space Station is visible again over the next few evenings.

I saw it last night, low in the South/South West as it passed just above the moon.

It will be visible again tonight for about 6 minutes starting at 18.39 BST.
Tonight's passing is higher and brighter so should be even easier to see.

By the way, the Shuttle is due up again on 23 October so a bit of ISS/Shuttle watching will be on the cards over the next couple of weeks.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Ta for the heads up.

Moons coming up as well and I have just got me mits on a 2 times barlow for the camera adapter. Hope to sort the focusing issue out.

69elan+2

13,846 posts

212 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
.. as it passed just above the moon.
Is it clear enough without a telescope? and does it move quicky?

It never fails to amaze me how fast satellites seem to pass overhead.


MitchT

15,789 posts

208 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
I saw the ISS last time it went through a phase of visibility. Had to go out around 23:00 to see it though. 18:39 seems a whole lot more civilised smile

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
For S Wales I have it at around 18:38 coming up through Acturas (west). Going through around 50 deg then down SE ish. After that it may be a tad low?

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
On occasions it can be VERY bright (the brightest object in the sky after the moon, the sun and Venus). Last night it was easily visible to the naked eye. Its apparent speed is roughly the same as a high flying airliner - but it is almost 50 times higher!
It should be brighter tonight - but not as bright as it can be.

It is better to pick it up with the naked eye and then follow it with hand held binoculars. I was able to follow it with the bins last night until it faded away as it entered the earth's shadow.

mickk

28,773 posts

241 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Does anyone know of a website where i could follow this, that is if im sober after some game tonight.

69elan+2

13,846 posts

212 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Thanks Eric - I'll have a look this evening thumbup




PS: nice to see youve still got VBH on your profile wink

Simond001

4,514 posts

276 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
For those interested, the International Space Station is visible again over the next few evenings.

I saw it last night, low in the South/South West as it passed just above the moon.

It will be visible again tonight for about 6 minutes starting at 18.39 BST.
Tonight's passing is higher and brighter so should be even easier to see.

By the way, the Shuttle is due up again on 23 October so a bit of ISS/Shuttle watching will be on the cards over the next couple of weeks.
I saw it last night for the first time. Low and moving fast right to left. Watched from the South Downs whilst walking the dog around 7.35


Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Try www.heavens-above.com

You can register for free. Just put in your location in the UK and you will be able to get a list of passes of the ISS (and Shuttle when it's in orbit) and many other orbiting objects visible from where you live.

minimoog

6,857 posts

218 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Plug your location into this and it'll tell you what is up there and where to look:

http://heavens-above.com/selecttown.asp?CountryID=...


ETA: Beaten to it!

Edited by minimoog on Saturday 20th October 12:21

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
As above, TA for the Heads up (quite literally come 18:39 or so tonight!).

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
At the moment the ISS is midway across the Atlantic and looks like it will cross just off the coast south of England in the next ten to 15 minutes. It will be back again in 90 minutes and will probably be more directly overhead.

Heavens Above doesn't show these as visiable passes as they will occur in broad daylight. I wonder if it will be visible in a clear blue sky?

Nope - too much glare.

I'll try again on the next pass.

Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 20th October 15:42

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Cobblers. Cloudy. If they were to trail a rope with a neon sign saying "We are Here", and assuming it had a rockets to change its orbit........ never work.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,785 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Crossing the Caribbean at the moment - so should be back in about 20 minutes or so. Nice clear blue skies over Farnborough at the moment so it will be worth a another try.

Update - nothing again. I guess I'll have to wait until it's dark.

Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 20th October 17:15

drive2tractors

488 posts

263 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Bump. Off to get the bins for very excited 6 year old.

Gorvid

22,226 posts

224 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
I'm in North Devon...where do I look??? frown

drive2tractors

488 posts

263 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
I think sort of above the moon, will move across from right to left like a jetliner. I hope. Other wise we will have a very disappointed 6 year old!

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Gorvid said:
I'm in North Devon...where do I look??? frown
West moving SW according to Starry night.

Brother Mycroft

843 posts

198 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for the heads up... [literally] watched it pass, great to think of it up there!