Space Station Spotting
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
The Shuttle is completely invisible these days because it is no longer in use. It was retired in 2011 
When it was in use, it was definitely visible. To the naked eye and even with binoculars, it looked like a dot. However, with the right type of optics (essentially, a telescope on a tracking mount) the outline of the Orbiter was clearly visible.
That's great!When it was in use, it was definitely visible. To the naked eye and even with binoculars, it looked like a dot. However, with the right type of optics (essentially, a telescope on a tracking mount) the outline of the Orbiter was clearly visible.
generationx said:
Eric Mc said:
The Shuttle is completely invisible these days because it is no longer in use. It was retired in 2011
When it was in use, it was definitely visible. To the naked eye and even with binoculars, it looked like a dot. However, with the right type of optics (essentially, a telescope on a tracking mount) the outline of the Orbiter was clearly visible.
That's great!When it was in use, it was definitely visible. To the naked eye and even with binoculars, it looked like a dot. However, with the right type of optics (essentially, a telescope on a tracking mount) the outline of the Orbiter was clearly visible.
silverthorn2151 said:
Been quiet on this thread for a while.
There are some nice passes this week. Currently sitting in the dark on the cool patio while the house cools down waiting for one at 11:54.
There was a great one on Monday night. Came directly overhead, probably the best pass I have seen. There are some nice passes this week. Currently sitting in the dark on the cool patio while the house cools down waiting for one at 11:54.
Eric Mc said:
Saw that too on Monday. It's less of a novelty now so doesn't get remarked upon so much.
Monday night was beautiful. As well as the ISS, I saw a tumbling rocket stage and what looked like a piece of space debris entering the atmosphere and burning up.
You're right of course, I know many other people than PHers who now cast their eyes upwards, but it still thrills me.Monday night was beautiful. As well as the ISS, I saw a tumbling rocket stage and what looked like a piece of space debris entering the atmosphere and burning up.
How did you see the other bits?
Thanks. I'll keep an eye out.
The NASA / SpaceX Crew-5 mission is supposed to launch to the ISS on Monday 3rd October.
Launch time is 5:45 pm UK time (12.45 pm Florida). With a bit of luck and some clear skies, we might get a view of it chasing down the ISS over the following 24 hrs.
Onboard will be 4 crew - 2 American, 1 Japanese and 1 Russian.
This will be the first time a Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, has flown on an American capsule. It's 20 years since one flew on Shuttle Endeavour.
The NASA / SpaceX Crew-5 mission is supposed to launch to the ISS on Monday 3rd October.
Launch time is 5:45 pm UK time (12.45 pm Florida). With a bit of luck and some clear skies, we might get a view of it chasing down the ISS over the following 24 hrs.
Onboard will be 4 crew - 2 American, 1 Japanese and 1 Russian.
This will be the first time a Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, has flown on an American capsule. It's 20 years since one flew on Shuttle Endeavour.
We have these views over Glasgow in January - going to be clear on Thursday but only reaching 13 degrees up in the sky, are we likely to see much? No tall buildings nearby, just some three storey tenements, and there are a few little hills we can walk up to get a better view.
Date Visible Max Height* Appears Disappears
Thu Jan 19, 6:21 PM 2 min 13° 10° above S 13° above SE
https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/view.cfm...
Date Visible Max Height* Appears Disappears
Thu Jan 19, 6:21 PM 2 min 13° 10° above S 13° above SE
https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/view.cfm...
A decent spot tonight, my daughter (22) wanted to start stargazing so we went to Nottingham to London camera exchange and after 40 mins of trying out a large range of binoculars she picked some Nikon 8 x 34 IIRC and then went into the peak district near Matlock, up a country lane and found a layby just in time for ISS to pass, then proceeded to look around with the binos as the sky was really clear, saw Jupiter and 2 moons, Io is a little too small to see, Mars, the occasional satellite, M42 Orion nebula, can't see much but can make out a feint fuzz Seven sisters and a few other places around the sky, but byekk it was bloody cold!
I used to be into Astronomy so have seen most of it all through a 300mm Skywatcher with HEQ5 mount but it's still fascinating to look at even with a pair of binoculars
I used to be into Astronomy so have seen most of it all through a 300mm Skywatcher with HEQ5 mount but it's still fascinating to look at even with a pair of binoculars
Steve Campbell said:
If you use Heavens Above web page it also gives you the relative brightness (the more negative the brighter) and a "sky map" to show you exactly where to look. That seems very low in the sky to get any decent sighting.
We missed that one but some friends went into their garden with their kids and saw it fine (13 degrees) so it maybe depends on what buildings are around you. Saw a couple of sightings the next few days, once we'd realised it actually was the ISS and not an aeroplane! Took me a while to get my head around why it just appears and disappears in the middle of the sky, but the angles and compass directions are actually pretty good, and MiniHill immediately went inside and tried to build a space station out of Lego so all good. Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff