Author Topic: International Space Station sighting (Read 31577 times)

LanceLink!!!!! · « **on:** April 28, 2011, 01:16:00 pm »

Great time at the moment to see the ISS flying over.

Seen it the last couple of nights, it appears from the North West at exactly the time the NASA website says and takes a couple of minutes to fly over, quite a sight. It's cool to look up and think there's someone on that, 200 miles above your head.

Check out when it flies over here - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+Kingdom

lachesis · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2011, 01:20:28 pm »

Is there an easy way to discover where to look using those telescope settings other than up and slightly southwest?

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2011, 01:27:43 pm »

Just look in that general direction at the given time, you cant miss it, brightest and fastest thing in the sky by a long way.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2011, 03:15:26 pm »

Is it visible to the naked eye?

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2011, 03:40:39 pm »

Yeah, get out there tonight if you have no clouds

buzzing · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2011, 03:54:17 pm »

ISS
Thu Apr 28/09:09 PM 78 (elevation) 32 above W (approach) 10 above ESE (dept)

How does one know where that is without knowing about the sky

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2011, 04:14:22 pm »

Quote from: buzzing on April 28, 2011, 03:54:17 pm

ISS
Thu Apr 28/09:09 PM 78 (elevation) 32 above W (approach) 10 above ESE (dept)

How does one know where that is without knowing about the sky

It'll come from the West

rowan_d · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2011, 04:25:31 pm »

I'll be locked in at work when it goes over

R1col · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2011, 05:07:44 pm »

That explains what I saw last night then. It was really bright and seemed to be much bigger than a normal satellite.
Will look out for it again tonight then now I know what im looking for.

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2011, 07:11:09 pm »

Over my house at 9.08 and 10.24 tonight

Fiasco · « **Reply #10 on:** April 28, 2011, 07:14:31 pm »

Have no idea what all of the timings etc mean, I'm in Liverpool so will it be visible tonight?

FiSh77 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2011, 07:43:43 pm »

Quote from: Fiasco on April 28, 2011, 07:14:31 pm

Have no idea what all of the timings etc mean, I'm in Liverpool so will it be visible tonight?

yes

9.08pm & 10.42, each time will only last a few minutes

Umbarto · « **Reply #12 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:00:49 pm »

Saw it last night inadvertently, didn't know wtf it was and was wondering why a plane was going that fast with no flashing lights anywhere visible. Cool to know now.

Tomo! · « **Reply #13 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:38:10 pm »

Quote from: FiSh77 on April 28, 2011, 07:43:43 pm

yes

9.08pm & 10.42, each time will only last a few minutes

Sounds like the first night of my honeymoon.

PROPER crazyemlyn72 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:43:48 pm »

im in dublin, just a heads up that in the uk you might be able to see the shuttle launch tomorrow.

watch the launch live on nasa tv and about 18 minutes later you might see it heading straight up and maybe the booster being jettisoned.

look to the west. people better qualified than me maybe able to find out about the uk sighting possibilities?

Tomo! · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:12:21 pm »

Just passed over, cheers for the heads up

R1col · « **Reply #16 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:15:18 pm »

Cheers for the heads up, could show the kids it tonight

Bioluminescence · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:16:41 pm »

Thanks for that - just saw it pass over Falmouth

wizz001 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:20:20 pm »

Quote from: LanceLink on April 28, 2011, 01:16:00 pm

Great time at the moment to see the ISS flying over.

Seen it the last couple of nights, it appears from the North West at exactly the time the NASA website says and takes a couple of minutes to fly over, quite a sight. It's cool to look up and think there's someone on that, 200 miles above your head.

Check out when it flies over here - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+Kingdom

Im from the north west what time should i be able to see it?

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:32:56 pm »

Quote from: wizz001 on April 28, 2011, 09:20:20 pm

Im from the north west what time should i be able to see it?

10.42

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:34:44 pm »

Amazing to think it orbits the Earth in 94 minutes

Gobias Industries · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:36:48 pm »

Just seen it myself, because this thread brought it to my attention. Despite being a keen sky viewer I've never seen it before. Thanks very much.

One thing I, as well as Lance, couldn't help but be struck by as I watched that tiny little bright light whizz across the sky is that there are people on it. It amazes me.

1892-WELLZ · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:38:19 pm »

Quote from: LanceLink on April 28, 2011, 09:34:44 pm

Amazing to think it orbits the Earth in 94 minutes

was just figuring that out madness.....

wizz001 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:39:36 pm »

Quote from: LanceLink on April 28, 2011, 09:32:56 pm

10.42

thanks i hope its a clear night. What do i look for?

Fiasco · « **Reply #24 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:39:59 pm »

Bastard missed it, will deffo try and catch it at 10.42 though if the skies are clear. I'm looking towards the west, right?

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #25 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:42:07 pm »

Quote from: wizz001 on April 28, 2011, 09:39:36 pm

thanks i hope its a clear night. What do i look for?

A bright light wizzing across the sky

Quote from: Fiasco on April 28, 2011, 09:39:59 pm

Bastard missed, will deffo try and catch it at 10.42 though if the skies are clear. I'm looking towards the west, right?

The West is the best

1892-WELLZ · « **Reply #26 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:43:49 pm »

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html

10 mins ago it was in the ocean now above oz..... scary speeds

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #27 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:46:28 pm »

17,000 mph allegedly

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #28 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:48:11 pm »

Quote from: Bioluminescence on April 28, 2011, 09:16:41 pm

Thanks for that - just saw it pass over Falmouth

Falmouth?? My home town, have defected North now though, moved to Truro.

1892-WELLZ · « **Reply #29 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:48:39 pm »

i love this kinda stuff

LanceLink!!!!! · « **Reply #30 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:53:20 pm »

From Wikipedia

'The station is maintained at an orbit between 278 km (173 mi) and 460 km (286 mi) altitude, and travels at an average speed of 27,743.8 km/h (17,239.2 mph), completing 15.7 orbits per day'

Phileas Fogg will be turning in his grave.

redmachine · « **Reply #31 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:59:32 pm »

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iss-visibility/id314583174?mt=8

Easy to spot using this app on iPhone or ipad - uses gps

It's also available on installous if you search.

redmachine · « **Reply #32 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:06:33 pm »

Details for the 10.42 pass, quite low in the Sky (22 degrees)

cim-pim-param · « **Reply #33 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:09:18 pm »

These street lamp posts are killing me!
edit: I think i see it?

1892-WELLZ · « **Reply #34 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:46:07 pm »

just seen it couldnt of been for more than a minute....

was dull then all of a sudden was bright as anything

quality, real quality.....

thanks for the tip off makes you feel real small in this world...

redmachine · « **Reply #35 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:46:45 pm »

Saw it, only for the last 20 seconds or so, really fast moving and really bright. Awesome!

Dr Manhattan · « **Reply #36 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:49:13 pm »

Was quite small. Don't know why but I was expecting it to be bigger. Kind of felt like I was just watching a plane, but it was too quick to be one.

Pretty cool though, will have another look tomorrow, while others are out getting drunk and having a life.

1892-WELLZ · « **Reply #37 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:51:06 pm »

Quote from: Dr Manhattan on April 28, 2011, 10:49:13 pm

Was quite small. Don't know why but I was expecting it to be bigger. Kind of felt like I was just watching a plane, but it was too quick to be one.

Pretty cool though, will have another look tomorrow, while others are out getting drunk and having a life.

dont follow the crowd...

live your own life

redmachine · « **Reply #38 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:51:40 pm »

Quote from: Dr Manhattan on April 28, 2011, 10:49:13 pm

while others are out getting drunk and having a life.

thought that myself, shivering my arse off in the garden looking into the sky

♠Dirty Harry♠ · « **Reply #39 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:52:42 pm »

Bollocks missed it