Observing spacecraft

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newsartist

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<p>A surprising number of spacecraft, both manned and robot, can be seen with the naked eye.</p><p>Like we&nbsp; did with the old thread, we can use this space to help everybody keep track.</p><p>These websites are good tools for satellite watching:</p><p>Follow their directions, but if needed, several people here will help you out.</p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">http://heavens-above.com/</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/sightings/</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana">&nbsp;</span> </p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana">And for predictions of satellites and boosters that are expected to reenter in the near future;</span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana">http://www.reentrynews.com/upcoming.html</span> </p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>A surprising number of spacecraft, both manned and robot, can be seen with the naked eye.Like we&nbsp; did with the old thread, we can use this space to help everybody keep track. <br />Posted by newsartist</DIV></p><p>Wow, that's really odd. What happened to the old thread?</p><p>It was in M&L, and I've searched back far enough to find it, and it ain't there.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Well anyway, you started the thread, so it's up to you to edit the primary post with the links that were in the old one :)</p> <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>
 
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newsartist

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This is a shameless *bump* to get this thread back into view as observing chances heat up, with all the activity in the ISS vicinity....&nbsp; <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>This is a shameless *bump* to get this thread back into view as observing chances heat up, with all the activity in the ISS vicinity....&nbsp; <br />Posted by newsartist</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Another bump, not shameless <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" />to bring this thread toward the top.</p><p>With the ISS making evening passes (and the ATV close by) lots of folks are noticing it for the first time. Also Genesis 1 and 2 have some good evening passes upcoming, so lots of folks will see them for the first time. Also I think spring lets people look at the evening sky for the first time in a while.</p><p>So, here's my advice.</p><p>Go to </p><p>http://heavens-above.com/</p><p>Set your location by selecting from the map, or database, THEN bookmark your page.</p><p>Every time you hit your bookmark, you will come up to your location.</p><p>You can also register if you wish, but if you bookmark as I suggest, you won't have to.</p><p>Then you can look at upcoming (and by hitting "Prev" above the listing) and recent satellite passes for the ISS, ATV, Genesis 1 + 2, Envisat, and HST, as well as a listing of most satellites visible overhead for the evening or morning hours. MAke this site your friend, and you will see how many objects there are up there.</p><p>Also check out the Iridium Flares, These are Very bright, short (5-10 seconds) satellites.</p><p>If you look for them, two things are critical. Accurate position (for a big town or city, just using the city from the database may not be close enough, use the map selection) and accurate calibrated time. Since they are only 10 seconds long, if your watch is off by 10 seconds, guess what, you missed it! BUt they are some of the most spectacular events in the sky, for a few seconds hundreds of times brighter than Venus ever gets.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Meteor Wayne</p> <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>
 
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billslugg

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<p>Wayne</p><p>Back when I was a kid, about 13, I lived near San Diego. I was outside one night and happened to see a light in my peripheral vision. It was some "thing" entering the atmosphere. It was a the brightness of Venus, moved very slowly from left to right over about 45 degrees of sky in the west, lasted about 6 seconds, and broke up into numerous pieces, each of which broke up again and again. I recorded the exact time in my diary and have since pinned it to a re-entering Soviet booster using Jonathan's database.</p><p>EDIT: Now, don't forget to impress your friends by stating that you can: "Make a star appear in the sky." Keep your watch on time, know your location and directions and consult Heavens Above regularly.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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Bump for a new person trying to spot the ISS. <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>
 
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MeteorWayne

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Bump for a new person trying to spot the ISS. <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>For those in the northeast US, the next few nights present a great opportunity to see the ISS, and maybe even the SOyuz approaching tonight. The skies might finally be clear and there's a pass around 8:30 PM EDT. The further northeast you are tonight, the better. For me it reaches 19 degrees, for Mass, it's ~ 30 degrees. Tomorrow night I have a 40 degree pass, in Mass it's nearly overhead. I have not been able to find if the soyuz will be ahead of or behind the ISS, but should be in the area. Of course, the ISS should be substantially brighter, and they will be in the smae approximate orbit.</p><p>They dock at 8:30 AM tomorrow, so shouldn't be too far away from each other.</p><p>Check your Heavens-Above page for exact timing and elevation; it;s possible that they will add the Soyuz later..but they haven't yet.</p><p>If you are just looking, checkthe first post in the thread to find visible satellite sources.</p><p>Wayne<br /></p> <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>
 
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Zipi

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Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I have not been able to find if the soyuz will be ahead of or behind the ISS, but should be in the area.<br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV><br /><br />Soyuz is chasing the station from below and behind just like the space shuttle missions. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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