BS: Watch the night sky for this!

Subject: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 01:57 PM

This should be kewl!


FLYBY ALERT: In a twilight launch of stunning beauty, space shuttle Discovery left Earth last night on a two week construction mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery is now approaching the ISS for docking on March 17th. The timing of this mission favors sky watchers in North America and Europe who will be able to see the two spacecraft flying over many towns and cities in the evenings ahead. Tonight, March 16th, is extra-special because the not-yet-docked duo will appear as distinct points of bright light flying one after the other through the twilight sky--a rare "double flyby." Check the Simple Satellite Tracker for flyby times:click here

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 02:20 PM

Thanks for posting this, kat m'dear.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 02:39 PM

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! Oh...it just a space station or two.
LOL
Thanks, Miss Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: gnu
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 02:41 PM

They must be getting a lot of hits. Won't work for me... "try later"

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 02:57 PM

here's the raw addy: http://spaceweather.com/flybys/

I got an error message, too, just now.

Have fun folks and thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: heric
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:21 PM

"The satellite tracker is temporarily overloaded by an avalanche of visitors."

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: heric
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:26 PM

Do you know what time you are supposed to watch tonight, kat?

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:26 PM

"...will appear as distinct points of bright light..."

I think I'll wait for the videos....

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:32 PM

Try the Heavens Above site.
Not visible from UK just now.
I have seen the duo before and of course the ISS is a very frequent sight.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: jeffp
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:45 PM

http://jsc.nasa.gov/sightings is working. It uses a Java applet to give you the time, azimuth, elevation, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 05:37 PM

That link isn't working, either!

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 07:53 PM

You do have to give the applet at the NASA link time to work...

astro's got a star party tomorrow night at Cal State Long Beach -- hope it's clear enough to see it.

Unfortunately, today it looks like the pass is at about 5:30 -- a little too much sunshine for viewing today!

~ Becky in Long Beach this week

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 10:59 PM

drats

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 11:41 PM

drat is right! I forgot to look and the site keeps hanging up, so I wasn't sure of what time. Maybe tomorrow?

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 04:14 AM

Really, Heavens Above is great if you are interested in things in the sky.
It gives you full details of all visible satellite passes, and also predicts Iridium flares.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 04:47 AM

thread.cfm?threadid=89716&messages=3

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 10:36 AM

They are docked now.
A good chance to see the station passing over southern England tonight.

Rising in the West at 20.15 and almost overhead at 20.17 but disappearing into shadow at once.
Give them a wave.

Subject: RE: BS: Watch the night sky for this!
From: olddude
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 10:45 AM

Kat
wrong that wasn't the shuttle, it was Spaw
he lit a fart