Monday, March 7, 2011

Last Chance to See ISS and Discovery!

Much of the U.S. will get a chance to see the International Space Station and Discovery flying in tandem the next two nights. This will be the last chance to see Discovery as it is being retired. We get a short, low pass here in Tucson tonight. You can check info and times for you location at Heavens Above or Spaceweather's Simple Satellite Tracker (although Spaceweather's interface is easy to use, they don't show all the passes...they don't show the low pass that takes place in Tucson tonight!) Various apps are available for cell phones to help out as well (search your preferred market).

The ISS is always easy to see and the Shuttle will be slightly ahead of it. Here is a pic I took of a Shuttle/ISS flyby a while ago.

I know in Racine it can be tough to find a break in the clouds at this time of year but I had to post just in case!

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

at

6 comments:

  1. OKIEMarch 7, 2011 at 4:36 PM

    Doesn't look like that down here. Am grateful for these Hale as I think we are in the clouds for the next few days.
    Seriously folks, this is really neat to go outside and look at.

    Thanks Hale.

    ReplyDelete
  2. kkditherMarch 7, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    I saw them the first night they docked. It was one of the most spectacular sightings yet. You could almost see definition of the two of them. It appeared that you could almost see the "wings" of the ISS.

    I saw it last night as well. Looked like it was further away (?) Still cool though.

    It was my understanding that they un-docked today? Something is up with heavens-above. I can't seem to get the page to load.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MinnesotaChickMarch 7, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Thanks for the heads up, but I doubt I will see them. Cloudy and snow expected Tuesday night.
    I will have to live through your photos, Hale. Again.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. SERMarch 7, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    heavens-above - would load for me either.

    7:03:45 WNW in the sky

    ReplyDelete
  5. hale-boppMarch 7, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    I had problems with Heavens-Above last week. They seem to be having some issues recently.

    Very good eyes, kk. Pumping through the math, the ISS is just big enough that a person with good vision can discern that it is not a point source of light. Math backs you up that you are not imagining it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. kkditherMarch 7, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    SER, 7:30 to 7:32 tonight. Your times were still there from yesterday's pass for some reason. Doesn't matter, looks like it will not be visible... too many clouds out there. :(

    ReplyDelete