Driving home this evening we saw a very bright light in the sky. While we tried to determine if it was a star or not, Rog told me that the newInternational Space Station is highly visible, even in the daytime. We logged on to see where it was in the world at that moment...it was around on the other side of the earth, so we confirmed we'd seen a star. The site I linked to has a page which will tell you when the next orbit of the Space Station will be in your area.

I find it fascinating that it is reflects so much light we can see it with our naked eye. I've always thought of humankind as so small and almost invisible when in space, which seems so vast.

I was going to do another TFTD on looking forward to spring (in the Northern hemisphere, at least), but this came about. I do wonder what it would be like in space, not having any seasons, all familiar parameteres of space gone. If I were on the Space Station right now...I wonder if there would be any reminders that spring really is just around the corner. Even if they were experimenting with planting seeds etc. it would all be so artificial, I think it would be interesting but kind of sad...I would miss the prompts we have...the first song of a robin, the crocus pushing its head through the snow...

Of course, I know if we have colonies, there will be every effort put into simulating *home*, probably, and they may already have done this on the Space Station as much as possible. With it being a scientific expedition, I would tend to doubt there is much in that way, though.(I haven't had a chance to look the site over, so don't know how it is set up.) I also understand that the people who are up there are not there to ponder on Springtime and muse about reminders, but I know I would regardless...I think I'd probably want along a CD of Springtime birds' songs, etc. to remind me the upper half of the globe was waking up for another go at new life.