Space Station Spotting

[JulesV]

Thanks

[central]

Excellent view.

[jmorgan]

Ah CRUD! clouds came in again at the last sodding minute. Saw it through the clouds though they were that thin.


Hmm. Got capella in the scope, aiming for a trail of the station crossing field of view but maybe it was too narrow. Have to check the sums. Zoom lens tomorrow I think. Just messing with the camera.

Edited by jmorgan on Wednesday 6th February 18:58

[sa_20v]

I think I saw it, orange dot?

[central]

sa_20v said:

I think I saw it, orange dot?

I wouldn't say orange. More like a bright star.

[jmorgan]

central said:

sa_20v said:

I think I saw it, orange dot?

I wouldn't say orange. More like a bright star.

Mars was up and about, that is a tad orange and not far from the path?

This would have been shifting roughly west to east like a white dot. Then disappear before going down. I believe that is when it exits the suns glare that is coming over the horizon and hitting the station at that altitude?

[Eric Mc]

It faded out almost directly overhead.

It disappears from view when it enters the earth's shadow.

[Eric Mc]

It will be visible again tonight at around 17.56.

However, at 18.16 it will be followed by the Space Shuttle Atlantis - which is playing "catch up" at the moment.

[nbetts]

Eric Mc said:

It will be visible again tonight at around 17.56.

However, at 18.16 it will be followed by the Space Shuttle Atlantis - which is playing "catch up" at the moment.

Thanks Eric - In what direction should I be looking? - Other than upwards of course...

[Eric Mc]

Directly to the West.

The Space Station ALWAYS appears from a westerly direction.

The Shuttle will be slightly to the south of the ISS when it appears.

[central]

Eric Mc said:

It will be visible again tonight at around 17.56.

However, at 18.16 it will be followed by the Space Shuttle Atlantis - which is playing "catch up" at the moment.

Excellent info, Eric. Clear skies in Northants at the mo.

[Eric Mc]

That was good.

Shuttle up next in about 15 minutes.

I'm watching the Shuttle mission on NASA TV at the moment and they are performing their initial external inspection of the outside of Atlantis.

[dickymint]

Eric Mc said:

That was good.

Shuttle up next in about 15 minutes.

I'm watching the Shuttle mission on NASA TV at the moment and they are performing their initial external inspection of the outside of Atlantis.

Caught the ISS brightest i've ever seen it. Don't know what magnitude it was but very bright. Off to see the shuttle now Jeff hope you had your camera out.

Edit: so excited got to have a pee first

Edited by dickymint on Friday 8th February 18:06

[central]

Got the ISS, but think I missed the shuttle.

[S6PNJ]

central said:

Got the ISS, but think I missed the shuttle.

Same here, just saw the one dot (with x9 bino's).

[dickymint]

Got the shuttle as well - higher than I'd thought, almost directly overhead and a bit later than eric said. ISS was just above Mars and the shuttle so I thought the shuttle would be in Orion but in fact way above the ISS.

[Mikey G]

Good view of both tonight.

Just watched the shuttle and spotted something moving north, anyone else see it?

[Eric Mc]

Atlantis has just gone over. Almost as bright as the ISS.

It was a couple of minutes later than the "heaven's above" schedule said and was actually on a track slightly north of the ISS.

[jmorgan]

Wey hey , got the shuttle. Another pass for ISS soon.

[dickymint]

jmorgan said:

Wey hey , got the shuttle. Another pass for ISS soon.

What time Jeff?