Comments on: See the space station http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:57:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: MB http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91345 MB Sun, 25 May 2008 05:14:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91345 It was cloudy out tonight, and tonight was the last listing of the ISS passing over where I live... :-( It was cloudy out tonight, and tonight was the last listing of the ISS passing over where I live…
:-(

]]> By: ZaphodBeeblebrox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91344 ZaphodBeeblebrox Sun, 25 May 2008 02:33:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91344 I Just Saw that Low Pass you were Talking about Beth, Low and Slow and VERY Orange ... The Colour Seemed to Change When they Added The Truss a Few Years Back, it was Always Whitish Before ... So you're in The Northeastern US, too, Right? :-? I Just Saw that Low Pass you were Talking about Beth, Low and Slow and VERY Orange …

The Colour Seemed to Change When they Added The Truss a Few Years Back, it was Always Whitish Before …

So you’re in The Northeastern US, too, Right?
:-?

]]> By: Beth Katz http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91343 Beth Katz Sun, 25 May 2008 01:03:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91343 I had a pass overhead at magnitude -2.4 at 8:40pm this evening. The sky was still blue, and we had clouds. But we did see ISS pass the zenith. I had my camera set at 8 seconds, and that image was all white. I got a couple more 2 second photos as it came out of the clouds, but they are unremarkable. Seeing the bright light through the clouds was cool. We get another low pass later tonight. Jacco, great story about seeing the shuttle. I had a pass overhead at magnitude -2.4 at 8:40pm this evening. The sky was still blue, and we had clouds. But we did see ISS pass the zenith. I had my camera set at 8 seconds, and that image was all white. I got a couple more 2 second photos as it came out of the clouds, but they are unremarkable. Seeing the bright light through the clouds was cool. We get another low pass later tonight.

Jacco, great story about seeing the shuttle.

]]> By: ZaphodBeeblebrox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91342 ZaphodBeeblebrox Sun, 25 May 2008 00:56:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91342 OMG ... There is NOTHING that Compares to that, My Heart is Still Pounding ... Magnitude -2.4 at 81°, it Came Right Over-Head on Newton's Wings! :-O OMG …

There is NOTHING that Compares to that, My Heart is Still Pounding …

Magnitude -2.4 at 81°, it Came Right Over-Head on Newton’s Wings!

:-O

]]> By: slang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91341 slang Sat, 24 May 2008 22:57:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91341 Richard, heavens-above doesn't require registration. It just makes using the site easier, but you could just bookmark the site after selecting your location to have that info 'memorised'. (ignore this if that wasn't the reason for your registration remark) Richard, heavens-above doesn’t require registration. It just makes using the site easier, but you could just bookmark the site after selecting your location to have that info ‘memorised’. (ignore this if that wasn’t the reason for your registration remark)

]]> By: Jacco http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91340 Jacco Sat, 24 May 2008 19:48:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91340 Several years ago I watched ISS and the Shuttle passing overhead just when the Shuttle had crossed the Atlantic after launch (I live in the Netherlands). Seeing both of them was a coincedence, because the Shuttle launches when the orbit of ISS passes KSC, not nescessarily when ISS itself is passing KSC overhead. This observation took a bit of preparation because I only had the prediction from NASA J-pass that ISS would fly over the Netherlands that evening. I knew the Shuttle would be launced about 20 minutes earlier, so I was wondering if Shuttle would pass accross my sky together with ISS. I found a table of how the Shuttle speeds up after launch, so I calculated how much time it would take the Shuttle to cross the Atlantic. To my surprise it would pass overhead only several minutes earlier than ISS! So that evening I sat down in front of my computer, watched the launch on NASA tv (which is always a cool experience itself), and I went outside. About 20 or 25 minutes after launch, only a few minutes earlier than I expected, I saw a bright orange dot crossing the sky. That had to be the Shuttle! A few minutes later ISS followed, which was bright white. They didn't follow the the same track, ISS was more to the north. I was a bit puzzeled about that, but then I realised that ISS was at a much higher altitude than the Shuttle! This was so cool. First I watched the Shuttle launch on my computer, then it crossed the Atlantic in 20 minutes, and then I observed with my own eyes how it crossed my sky carrying its crew, while the ISS was flying a few hundred km higher, carrying its own crew. That was even more cool than watching ISS, Mir, and ISS for the 2nd time cross the sky on the same evening. Several years ago I watched ISS and the Shuttle passing overhead just when the Shuttle had crossed the Atlantic after launch (I live in the Netherlands). Seeing both of them was a coincedence, because the Shuttle launches when the orbit of ISS passes KSC, not nescessarily when ISS itself is passing KSC overhead. This observation took a bit of preparation because I only had the prediction from NASA J-pass that ISS would fly over the Netherlands that evening. I knew the Shuttle would be launced about 20 minutes earlier, so I was wondering if Shuttle would pass accross my sky together with ISS. I found a table of how the Shuttle speeds up after launch, so I calculated how much time it would take the Shuttle to cross the Atlantic. To my surprise it would pass overhead only several minutes earlier than ISS! So that evening I sat down in front of my computer, watched the launch on NASA tv (which is always a cool experience itself), and I went outside. About 20 or 25 minutes after launch, only a few minutes earlier than I expected, I saw a bright orange dot crossing the sky. That had to be the Shuttle! A few minutes later ISS followed, which was bright white. They didn’t follow the the same track, ISS was more to the north. I was a bit puzzeled about that, but then I realised that ISS was at a much higher altitude than the Shuttle! This was so cool. First I watched the Shuttle launch on my computer, then it crossed the Atlantic in 20 minutes, and then I observed with my own eyes how it crossed my sky carrying its crew, while the ISS was flying a few hundred km higher, carrying its own crew. That was even more cool than watching ISS, Mir, and ISS for the 2nd time cross the sky on the same evening.

]]> By: Dave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91339 Dave Sat, 24 May 2008 19:40:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91339 8:42 tonight is going to perfect. 84 degrees up for six minutes right across the open part of the yard. 8:42 tonight is going to perfect. 84 degrees up for six minutes right across the open part of the yard.

]]> By: Richard http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91338 Richard Sat, 24 May 2008 16:31:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91338 I'd suggest http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html - doesn't require registration. I’d suggest http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html – doesn’t require registration.

]]> By: Navneeth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91337 Navneeth Sat, 24 May 2008 15:58:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91337 -1.2? Boy, is that dull. ;) For the past two weeks, I've been getting alerts for -4+ (sorry for the nasty notation. I mean -4 and brighter. :) ) Maybe it's because I live near the equator. After they added the new panels, the brightness has shot up. -1.2? Boy, is that dull. ;) For the past two weeks, I’ve been getting alerts for -4+ (sorry for the nasty notation. I mean -4 and brighter. :) )
Maybe it’s because I live near the equator. After they added the new panels, the brightness has shot up.

]]> By: Beelzebud http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91336 Beelzebud Sat, 24 May 2008 15:53:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91336 I saw the ISS pass by last autumn on it's brightest pass of the year, and it was spectacular. I never imagined it would look so amazing, even with just the naked eye. I wonder how many UFO reports happen when it passes overhead. For someone that didn't realize what they were seeing, it might be kind of freaky. :) I saw the ISS pass by last autumn on it’s brightest pass of the year, and it was spectacular. I never imagined it would look so amazing, even with just the naked eye.

I wonder how many UFO reports happen when it passes overhead. For someone that didn’t realize what they were seeing, it might be kind of freaky. :)

]]> By: Mike McCants http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91335 Mike McCants Sat, 24 May 2008 15:33:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91335 "It’s hard to believe it was a -0.3 only." It's normally about 1 magnitude brighter than the magnitude predicted by Heavens-Above. They keep adding new components and Heavens-Above has not changed the "intrinsic magnitude" to keep up. And we have seen a few brief one magnitude brightenings recently. “It’s hard to believe it was a -0.3 only.”

It’s normally about 1 magnitude brighter than the magnitude predicted by Heavens-Above. They keep adding new components and Heavens-Above has not changed the “intrinsic magnitude” to keep up. And we have seen a few brief one magnitude brightenings recently.

]]> By: space cadet http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91334 space cadet Sat, 24 May 2008 14:53:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91334 Like Susan Brown, I enjoyed the excitement of seeing Echo (II?) going over while I was a child. And defectiverobot's point about catching ISS and the shuttle soon after undocking (or before docking, I guess) is fantastic. When I try to share my enthusiasm with my less astronomically interested friends, they usually fail to experience the excitement I feel at watching a little white dot float across the sky. But I keep telling 'em where and when to look, hoping that someday something might click in one of them, and then, Bingo, we've got us another convert. Talk it up, folks. Share the wonder. The sky is way cool. It's a shame so many people don't realize it, just because they've never bothered to look up. Like Susan Brown, I enjoyed the excitement of seeing Echo (II?) going over while I was a child. And defectiverobot’s point about catching ISS and the shuttle soon after undocking (or before docking, I guess) is fantastic. When I try to share my enthusiasm with my less astronomically interested friends, they usually fail to experience the excitement I feel at watching a little white dot float across the sky. But I keep telling ‘em where and when to look, hoping that someday something might click in one of them, and then, Bingo, we’ve got us another convert.

Talk it up, folks. Share the wonder. The sky is way cool. It’s a shame so many people don’t realize it, just because they’ve never bothered to look up.

]]> By: Michelle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91333 Michelle Sat, 24 May 2008 14:40:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91333 I seen it yesterday. it was just so bright... It's hard to believe it was a -0.3 only. I seen it yesterday. it was just so bright… It’s hard to believe it was a -0.3 only.

]]> By: Overstroming http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91332 Overstroming Sat, 24 May 2008 13:54:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91332 Great photos BA, really cool to nab the shuttle and space station together. The other night, as the immortal Tweety Bird almost said "I thought I saw a satellite!" I found out (from a euro-friendlier fellow Astro blog ;-) ) that the ISS was passing over N Europe fairly often at that time. So I went out the following night and it was really great to know when and where to look. And it's especially cool to think that there are people up in that shooting star. Although, Very Expensive Winnebago might be a more realistic description. M.O. Great photos BA, really cool to nab the shuttle and space station together.

The other night, as the immortal Tweety Bird almost said “I thought I saw a satellite!” I found out (from a euro-friendlier fellow Astro blog ;-) ) that the ISS was passing over N Europe fairly often at that time. So I went out the following night and it was really great to know when and where to look. And it’s especially cool to think that there are people up in that shooting star. Although, Very Expensive Winnebago might be a more realistic description.

M.O.

]]> By: slang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91331 slang Sat, 24 May 2008 13:25:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91331 Macadamia, Phil has explained that many times. Unless I'm mistaken: basically he would prefer to see all that money go into more scientific, robotic space exploration. Macadamia, Phil has explained that many times. Unless I’m mistaken: basically he would prefer to see all that money go into more scientific, robotic space exploration.

]]> By: Macadamia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91330 Macadamia Sat, 24 May 2008 12:08:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91330 Hello Phil, I'm curious, what does it mean that you're not a fan of the ISS? Hello Phil, I’m curious, what does it mean that you’re not a fan of the ISS?

]]> By: Benudhar http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91329 Benudhar Sat, 24 May 2008 11:41:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91329 It is a very good site, Where i found more knowledge about the space. It is a very good site, Where i found more knowledge about the space.

]]> By: DrFlimmer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91328 DrFlimmer Sat, 24 May 2008 09:52:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91328 I feel sorry for you, Phil! Just 50° and -1,6mag? In my location in Germany it's slightly better ;) It goes up to 84° and -2,5mag... that's really a wonderfull view! I must really find binoculars to enjoy it even more! I feel sorry for you, Phil! Just 50° and -1,6mag?
In my location in Germany it’s slightly better ;) It goes up to 84° and -2,5mag… that’s really a wonderfull view! I must really find binoculars to enjoy it even more!

]]> By: slang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91327 slang Sat, 24 May 2008 09:08:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91327 It really is an awesome sight, such a brilliant diamond gliding through the sky.. I managed to catch it once just before Jules Verne would dock, and as a parent I had a moment of pride when 7 year old Little Slang saw Jules Verne before I saw it :) That is such a cool thing, to see other spacecraft fly in formation with the ISS. So go to heavens-above and look for passes on flightday 2 or 3 after a shuttle launch. They typically have the shuttle's passes a single click away, when one is up there. (Next launch scheduled for May 31) Oh, when BA says "your location", don't assume this is a USA only thing.. I'm in the Netherlands (and don't speak danish ;p ) and have seen ISS many, many times. Heavens-above has a huge list of locations all over the world. And it's not just ISS... check out the prototype space-hotels Genesis 1 and 2 too! It really is an awesome sight, such a brilliant diamond gliding through the sky.. I managed to catch it once just before Jules Verne would dock, and as a parent I had a moment of pride when 7 year old Little Slang saw Jules Verne before I saw it :) That is such a cool thing, to see other spacecraft fly in formation with the ISS. So go to heavens-above and look for passes on flightday 2 or 3 after a shuttle launch. They typically have the shuttle’s passes a single click away, when one is up there. (Next launch scheduled for May 31)

Oh, when BA says “your location”, don’t assume this is a USA only thing.. I’m in the Netherlands (and don’t speak danish ;p ) and have seen ISS many, many times. Heavens-above has a huge list of locations all over the world. And it’s not just ISS… check out the prototype space-hotels Genesis 1 and 2 too!

]]> By: Crux Australis http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91326 Crux Australis Sat, 24 May 2008 07:29:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91326 http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0805/080512iss_dewers800.jpg has a nice pic of it. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0805/080512iss_dewers800.jpg has a nice pic of it.

]]> By: Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91325 Jim Sat, 24 May 2008 06:14:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91325 There's going to be a good chance to see the ISS where I live tonight around 8pm; I'm definitely going to take a look. Even if space funding could've been put to a better purpose, there's still wonderful about being able to look at one of the lights in the sky and think, "That's <i>us</i>. We <i>put</i> that there!" There’s going to be a good chance to see the ISS where I live tonight around 8pm; I’m definitely going to take a look. Even if space funding could’ve been put to a better purpose, there’s still wonderful about being able to look at one of the lights in the sky and think, “That’s us. We put that there!”

]]> By: Kevin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91324 Kevin Sat, 24 May 2008 05:32:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91324 I got a great shot of it, flying over our observatory. I got a great shot of it, flying over our observatory.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91323 The Bad Astronomer Sat, 24 May 2008 05:04:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91323 I'm <i>really</i> pleased that so many of you went out to see it! And now, the irony: I missed it. :-) We were watching a movie. Figures. But it's pretty cloudy here anyway. Maybe later this week. I’m really pleased that so many of you went out to see it!

And now, the irony: I missed it. :-) We were watching a movie. Figures. But it’s pretty cloudy here anyway. Maybe later this week.

]]> By: Cameron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91322 Cameron Sat, 24 May 2008 03:54:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91322 GAAA! I just missed a -2.0 pass! There's another pass tomorrow night that's -1.4, but I'll be working in a windowless room at the time. Darn it. GAAA! I just missed a -2.0 pass! There’s another pass tomorrow night that’s -1.4, but I’ll be working in a windowless room at the time. Darn it.

]]> By: Jeffersonian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/comment-page-1/#comment-91321 Jeffersonian Sat, 24 May 2008 03:44:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/23/see-the-space-station/#comment-91321 Oh man. That was koo-ell. Brightest I've seen it in some time. Thanx for heads up. Oh man. That was koo-ell. Brightest I’ve seen it in some time. Thanx for heads up.

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