DO NOT Miss the next ISS (International Space Station) passover

[LuvOrlando]

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[minnie56]

We were still up as it came over again at 0109 so we watched it again. I moved my car around to use it's compass to get me the exact direction to be looking LOL..came in useful after all!!!

 

[OhMari]

On a clear night and with our eyes adjusted to the darkness, we can see easily see about 1/2 dozen satellites passover.

My neighbor works for the gov. He actually works in a building in Iron Ridge Wisconsin, and the building looks just like the Epcot ball. He actually tracks satellites and the Space Station. I always assumed satellites traveled around the globe, but he says they travel south to north/ north/south, like wrapping twine around a ball up and down, never around.

When you are trying to find it, think of looking at stars, not airplanes.

 

[Meriweather]

Too many clouds here last night too......will try again tonight, but the next 2 nights it is getting kind of late
We will get to it though, the weather is supposed to be getting better by the weekend.

 

[okeydokey]

The two websites don;t have the same info for the same location. One has more sightings than the other.

 

[minnie56]

My neighbor works for the gov. He actually works in a building in Iron Ridge Wisconsin, and the building looks just like the Epcot ball. He actually tracks satellites and the Space Station. I always assumed satellites traveled around the globe, but he says they travel south to north/ north/south, like wrapping twine around a ball up and down, never around.

Well that is true of Spy Satellites, Weather satellites etc..
Geosynchronous Satellites in Space are fixed around the Equator...so they are around the Earth...not South to North and vice versa

 

[Shutterbug]

We were still up as it came over again at 0109 so we watched it again. I moved my car around to use it's compass to get me the exact direction to be looking LOL..came in useful after all!!!

I use the Big Dipper to find the north star and go from there.

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM

 

[minnie56]

I use the Big Dipper to find the north star and go from there.

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM

Yes- we saw that too. Was just the perfect nite to catch it.

 

[dejr_8]

The two websites don;t have the same info for the same location. One has more sightings than the other.

One site is probably giving all passovers. However, not all passovers will result in the ISS (or any satellite) being visible.

The key to making it visible is that the satellite need to still be "in the sun" and reflecting light while you are in the dark (early evening/late morning). When both you and the satellite are in the dark (late evening, all night and early morning) you won't see anything.

The heavens above site does mention that some people claim to be able to see the ISS even during the day.

 

[Mellie2162]

We caught it yesterday evening around 8:45, still light here. Very interesting to see.

 

[OhMari]

My neighbor works for the gov. He actually works in a building in Iron Ridge Wisconsin, and the building looks just like the Epcot ball. He actually tracks satellites and the Space Station. I always assumed satellites traveled around the globe, but he says they travel south to north/ north/south, like wrapping twine around a ball up and down, never around.

Well that is true of Spy Satellites, Weather satellites etc..
Geosynchronous Satellites in Space are fixed around the Equator...so they are around the Earth...not South to North and vice versa

Sorry, shows really how much I know. LOL.
We were having a campfire in our back yard, and I saw my first satellite about 15 years ago, and this is when my neighbor explained his job. Then he said, he would have to kill us all for giving out that info.----he was kidding.

 

[Shutterbug]

Iridium flares are neat to see too!

I remembering being in Telluride couple years back.
All the satellites I saw....actually just to be able to see so many stars was awesome.

 

[dejr_8]

Iridium flares are neat to see too!

I remembering being in Telluride couple years back.
All the satellites I saw....actually just to be able to see so many stars was awesome.

I have never seen an Iridium Flare but would like to.

 

[Shutterbug]

I have never seen an Iridium Flare but would like to.

Those are extremely location sensitive to how bright a one you would see.
being 20-30 miles may mean the difference between a bright one and a dim one.

Heavens Above also lists times for your location as well for iridium flares.

They are neat, they will start out faint like a satellite crossing the sky, then depending on scheduled brightness, suddenly get very bright. Then dimming back down to a small point of light as it travels the sky.

 

[Catananche]

The Space Station just flew past Edinburgh. That was fab! I've seen satelites before, but this was very bright.

Thanks for sharing, OP!

 

[minnie56]

Sorry, shows really how much I know. LOL.
We were having a campfire in our back yard, and I saw my first satellite about 15 years ago, and this is when my neighbor explained his job. Then he said, he would have to kill us all for giving out that info.----he was kidding.

You know-I know WAY less than you! My DH just happens to be in the Satellite Communication business..I guess I have listened to him too much!

 

[Michele]

Darn it! I missed it by about 20 minutes tonight. And it was 6 min....came to the DIS too late.

 

[minnie56]

It will be back!!! we saw it again..kinda hooked on it LOL

 

[CathrynRose]

YAY! Thank you for this thread!

I saw it tonight! Neat!

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I'm pretty sure we saw it last night, was a little far away to be absolutely sure it wasn't blinking (ie a plane). For those of you that saw it, which of the websites posted did you find most helpful? I'm going to do a little homework today and we'll try again tonight.