Some nights it really pays to be out there.
Heavens above predicted a -0.2 ISS tonight (6:45 EST) from the NNW (10 deg alt) to ESE, (10 deg finish with 44 deg max altitude in the NE) so I dragged myself out side with my lovely wife with great expectation.
Sya spotted it first (only Altair was visible in the mid twilight) and it quickly brightened, far surpassing the -0.6 predicted mag. By the time it reached max elevation it had easily reached Venus' max magnitude and kept getting brighter. Then just as the ISS passed the max altitude a triple flaring meteor flashed through the sky about 5 deg in front of the space station. How cool
. We didn't see any tail as the sky was still too light but we didn't miss the head. Even go a Ohhhh Ahhhhh from Sya
The last I saw the ISS was slowly fading in the ESE.
Don't ya just luv these little sky surprises
