ISS sighting

[Kirkus]

I experienced my first ISS sighting last night. What a hoot! I had printed out a star map showing the space station's trajectory. It was supposed to appear from the NW, climb up the night sky, then enter Earth's shadow just before reaching Cassiopeia. I attached my camera to my small scope and pointed it up towards an area that the space station was going to pass through -- just in case :) .

The map I had printed out was way off. LOL.

Fortunately, I caught the glimmer of the station out of my peripheral vision, appearing in the West. I followed it across the sky, going nowhere near Cassiopeia, or where my camera was pointed.

It didn't matter though. I followed it with my binoculars for about a minute and a half. What a rush!!

[iceman]

Excellent work, it sure is a buzz when you see it.. especially a nice and high, mag -2.1 overhead pass.

Sydney is in for some great sightings from the 25th onwards! A couple of mag -2.5's and a mag -2.4!

If the sky ever clears I'll try and capture some images of it again.

[acropolite]

It's fun to watch it doodle across the sky, moreso when you have someone else, who isn't aware the ISS exists, to show . If you're lucky and the sun is at the correct angle it sometimes flares just like the iridium satellites.

[CoombellKid]

then you get those ones who think your pulling there leg :lol:

regards,CS

[Kirkus]

I don't remember the exact mag, but it was a negative number. And the thing was almost directly over head. There were two more fly overs the following night, but both were much closer to the horizon and there was too much haze to see it.

If "flare" means a flash of bright light, that's what caught my eye off to the west. It was like a sudden and sharp flash of light. It did that several more times as it went over.

[Mimo]

I've just observed ISS pass almost overhead from my suburb in Doncaster. I yelled out to the family to run outside quickly to have a look.

WOW!! :eyepop: Being the first time I have seen it I was quite suprised at how bright it was. The rest of the family were suitably impressed as well.

Did anyone else see it tonight? Easy to spot as the skies are cloudless at the moment and hardly a breath of wind. I don't know what mag it is, maybe someone else with better knowledge than me would be able to give an estimate. All I can say is that it was (much) brighter than any star or planet I've ever seen.

How do you catch something like this in a scope? And where can you get info about where it may be visible from a specific location (namely Melbourne in my case)?

[erick]

Sure did Mimo

I was watching for it.

Yes, it was bright. Magnitude -1.8 was predicted. It was brightest object in the sky - like a mobile Venus!

Could have been fooled into thinking it was a plane with landing lights on!


Here is where to look:-

http://www.heavens-above.com/

Choose the option to select your location from map or database etc. Then click on the ISS.

There is a really bright pass at 4:30 Saturday morning. Predicted -2.5 - it should be a stunning sight and we could compare its brightness with Venus which will be up then! I think I'll have to set the alarm!!

Eric :)

[Mimo]

Thanks Erick.

4.30am....?! I dunno, I'll try. One thing for sure if it's brighter than tonights episode it will be worth it.

[iceman]

They sure are fantastic. Viewing them through a scope is very difficult because it's moving so fast.

Some electronic mounts do have satellite tracking capability, but I haven't seen/used them myself. I use my dob base and track it manually through the finderscope, capturing images with a webcam.

[stephend]

Thanks to Erick for that link

http://www.heavens-above.com/

for getting satellite positions. Aint the internet fantastic?!

Now I look forward to glimpsing the ISS, though it will need to rise a lot higher than 10 degrees + or - to appear over our neighbouring houses, hill and trees.