BajaNomad - Space Shuttle & Space Station visible tonight

Space Shuttle & Space Station visible tonight

elgatoloco - 2-18-2008 at 09:19 AM

If you live in Southern California--specifically the San Diego area-- take notice! (If you live elsewhere*, see below.)

On Monday morning, February 18, the Space Shuttle (STS-122) will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) and, on Monday evening, both will make a brilliant pass nearly overhead. If you live elsewhere*, see below.

The pair will appear low in the northwestern sky around 5:50 p.m.
They should appear as two star-like satellites moving toward the southeast within seconds of each other--getting brighter as they go.
They pass nearly overhead at 5:53 p.m. and will vanish over the
southeastern horizon by about 5:58 p.m. For more details, visit
http://www.heavens-above.com.

From San Diego the two will also make a pass on Tuesday night from about 6:13 p.m. to 6:17 p.m., though they will be more widely separated, much lower in the sky and fainter.

* If you live elsewhere, you can get times for your town by visiting http://www.heavens-above.com (assuming the two pass over your area).
I recommend free registration so you can visit from time to time and
keep your location on file. Here you can select your town from a
database or add your latitude and longitude. Once in the site, scroll down to "Satellites" and then click "ISS".

[Edited on 2-18-2008 by elgatoloco]

Elena La Loca - 2-18-2008 at 09:32 AM

WOWZER! That'll be bright enough to see through the skylights at the money factory!

18 Feb -2.4 17:50:27 10º NW 17:53:18 90º NE 17:56:07 10º SE

BajaTrooper - 2-18-2008 at 09:50 AM

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

woody with a view - 2-18-2008 at 09:57 AM

i just played on of the sites and they say it's only visible for 2-4 minutes. that's not very long! is it OBVIOUS that's what you're seeing, or do you really have to know where and (within 2-4 minutes) when to look at a pinhead in the sky? :?:

elgatoloco - 2-18-2008 at 10:17 AM

If the sky is clear and look to the northwest you will see it. You have seen satellittes overhead when you have been in Baja. This will be much larger and one will be chasing the other. You wont need binos.

ISS & Shuttle have seperated and will be one behindst la otro

see track graphic below :cool:

[Edited on 2-18-2008 by elgatoloco]

David K - 2-18-2008 at 10:19 AM

It is a satellite... just like those we see when camping outdoors just after sunset... Look to the northwest and it will be moving right over our heads here in San Diego area... Start looking at 5:50... it will be heading to the southeast and gone in a couple minutes.

I saw it the last time it was mentioned here... a bright satellite, but just a point of light moving along at a fair clip. Now that the shuttle is connected it could be brighter.

gringorio - 2-18-2008 at 10:24 AM

I hope they can get some more good photos of Baja lights!

bajalou - 2-18-2008 at 10:43 AM

Have seen it for last few nights here in San Felipe and it's very obvious - big light moving fast.

If nobody told us we'd all be saying "UFO"

CaboRon - 2-18-2008 at 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
It is a satellite... just like those we see when camping outdoors just after sunset... Look to the northwest and it will be moving right over our heads here in San Diego area... Start looking at 5:50... it will be heading to the southeast and gone in a couple minutes.

I saw it the last time it was mentioned here... a bright satellite, but just a point of light moving along at a fair clip. Now that the shuttle is connected it could be brighter.

David,

I am assuming you mean 5:50pm Pacific Time .... for those of us in BCS it will still be pretty light (4:50pm) nowhere near sunset.

Hoping it will be visible at that time from Todos Santos.

CaboRon

BMG - 2-18-2008 at 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

David,

I am assuming you mean 5:50pm Pacific Time .... for those of us in BCS it will still be pretty light (4:50pm) nowhere near sunset.

Hoping it will be visible at that time from Todos Santos.

CaboRon

Last I looked, Baja curved to the right on a map. 5:50 PST is 6:50 local.

CaboRon - 2-18-2008 at 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Quote:

Last I looked, Baja curved to the right on a map. 5:50 PST is 6:50 local.

Thank's for the clarafication.

I guess I lean a little to the left :lol:

CaboRon

shari - 2-18-2008 at 02:16 PM

So if it's above california at 10 to 7 our time, will it be seen here in mid baja a bit later or the same time?????

BMG - 2-18-2008 at 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Quote:

Last I looked, Baja curved to the right on a map. 5:50 PST is 6:50 local.

Thank's for the clarafication.

I guess I lean a little to the left :lol:

CaboRon

That gets you in deep water! :lol:

elgatoloco - 2-18-2008 at 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
So if it's above california at 10 to 7 our time, will it be seen here in mid baja a bit later or the same time?????

David K - 2-18-2008 at 04:30 PM

Thanks Matt for posting the map again...

Amigos, the time is between 17:53 and 17:54 straight over SAN DIEGO (so yes that's Pacific time, ie. 5:53-5:54 pm)... For you guys in Asuncion, the 'clock time' would be 6:55 pm at its closest, note map and see where 17:55 is? So you guys in BajaSur look to the east to see it go from left to right in the sky.

In just FIVE minutes it moves from north of San Francisco to La Paz!

Frigatebird - 2-18-2008 at 07:05 PM

Very cool to watch from here in LA. The lead object appeared much fainter than the second traveler. Their separation seemed over 10 degrees. Lasted about three minutes with the clouds around. They really hustle when they are passing straight overhead.

CaboRon - 2-18-2008 at 07:05 PM

I saw them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The second object was much brighter, I am assuming that is the space station ?

What a thrill !!!!!!!!!!!!! :bounce:

CaboRon

[Edited on 2-19-2008 by CaboRon]

Space shuttle

Osprey - 2-18-2008 at 07:09 PM

Thanks for the post about the shuttle -- just went by us about 110 @ 23 was in the sky for almost 4 minutes -- didn't need my cheaters.

Osprey - 2-18-2008 at 08:13 PM

I do not know. I do a lot of things I have no real good answers for.

elgatoloco - 2-18-2008 at 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
I saw them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The second object was much brighter, I am assuming that is the space station ?

That is correct, SIR! :dudette:

David K - 2-18-2008 at 10:00 PM

Too much marine layer in Oceanside to see it tonight... But I tried!

CaboSako - 2-19-2008 at 09:53 AM

I missed it too, here in Carlsbad. Can't wait to get away from this marine layer. 13 days left for my move south!