Increased ISS visibility?

[mikeell]

Hi<br /><br />Does anyone know any predictions of how much the magnitude of the ISS will decrease (become more visible) once this next solar panel goes up? what about when it's complete?<br /><br />Cheers<br />MikeELL

 

[mikeell]

Heh,<br />Don't all speak at once <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />To clarify what I meant:<br />heavens-above.com is great site for viewing various satelites from the ground. When the ISS is just in the right spot, the solar panels reflect quite a bit of sunlight and make the ISS appear as a bright spot (approx equivalent to a Mag -1 star) travelling most of the way from horizon to horizon over a matter of minutes.<br /><br />The next shuttle mission is going to install the portside truss: an additional 17.5 tons. A future mission will install a second truss. This is 17000 square feet of solar panels between them.<br /><br />I read somewhere that there's already two solar panel arrays of similar size on the station, although one is yet to be erected: ie we should expect a four-fold increase apparent magnitude from the ground when it's completed... and a two-fold increase even after this next mission. can anyone confirm this for me?<br /><br />Cheers<br />MikeELL<br />

 

[larper]

It will definitely become brighter, but I don't know by how much. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"I read somewhere that there's already two solar panel arrays of similar size on the station, although one is yet to be erected:"<br /><br />Partially correct. P6 is already deployed. Not sure what was confused in the rest of the sentence. There are no other non-deployed US arrays. There are the SM and FGB arrays too. I don't know the exact number but they would contribute a fraction of the reflection of P6. The arrays account for most of the reflected light. The arrays going up soon are the same size as P6 so the upper limit would be less than double in brightness. <br /><br />Now, ISS will get fainter later this year when the P6 arrays are retracted, then get brigher when the S4 arrays are deploedy (approximately as bright as when 12A conpletes next month), then get fainter when the FGB arrays are retracted, then get brighter again when S6, and then P6 are redeployed. Then slightly fainter when the SM arrays stop tracking and become debris shields. Don't know the specific values but that is brightness plan! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[MeteorWayne]

I guess we'll have to just enjoy looking.<br /><br />BTW, I have seen flares as bright as -2 on 2 past passes. (both more than a year ago.)<br /><br />I assume that is when one of the solar arrays is perfectly aligned? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[mikeell]

Haha,<br /><br />I sit corrected (I think I read that one of the arrays up there atm is not currently in use for generating power - thus once connected there will be a fourfold increase in power generation - i didn't realise it was already deployed).<br /><br />Thanks for that, I wasn't really after exact values. I guess I'm just waiting for the time when there's a space station bright enough that it's as noticable to the casual onlooker as say a plane in the distance.<br /><br />cheers,<br />MikeELL