Mag -3.0 ISS!

[iceman (Mike)]

I'd been reading stories on various sites about how bright the ISS is, now that it's got its new solar panels installed. Visible even in daylight.

But I hadn't seen evidence of it yet, since we were clouded out for so many recent passes and I hadn't even bothered checking heavens-above.

But I checked heavens-above this morning, and on the 2nd July at 6pm there's a mag -3.0 pass over my location!! And it's only at 47deg altitude! I wonder how much brighter it'll be when it's overhead!??

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Oh No!! more light pollution clogging up the skies.

Yep I'm looking forward to catching one of those as well. That's if the fog ever lifts

I'll let you know how it looks. I've got a -3.3 at alt 78 deg on the 3rd @ 18:26

[sheeny (Al)]

Cool. I'm looking forward to some clear weather and a favourable pass... one day...

Al.

[RB (Andrew)]

I'm coming over Mike !

[Ric]

Sky ??

Stars ???

ISS ????

Oh now I remember them. I'll have to check Heavens Above for my area.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

I am sort of wondering how accurate heavens-above is, the issue with magnitude would be best angle for the sun to reflect of the bright parts of the satelitte to reach your location.

I remember looking a HA almost everyday but I always got different results. The very first result in search HA was ISS at -3.3. Was a great sight, very bright on a clear night. few weeks ago had ISS pass over at -1.5 (seen dimmer) and saw nothing.

I am though concern about the amount of light polution in my area wondering if that is having a large effect as well.

Not much help now though heaps of cloud and rain ATM.

[tonybarry (Tony)]

I've just spent a very enjoyable two evenings watching the ISS pass across Sydney skies, and there is the prospect of another two passes in the next two days (if the weather gods permit).

The first pass (2nd July) I put the Heavens-Above orbital data into my LX90, but it did not track the ISS at all. It thought its orbit was fifty degrees behind where it was. I found out that the orbital data must be gleaned from HA on the day (and preferably within a couple of hours of the pass).

When I repeated the effort tonight, the LX90 tracked quite well - but not well enough to put it consistently in the field of view of a 1/3" prime focus video camera. To get the ISS in the FOV, the LX90 needed constant nudging via the finderscope.

I hope to repeat the effort tomorrow and Sunday. The pass on Saturday is (according to HA) mag -3.1, max altitude 50 degrees (over Sydney) and should last for over 5.5 minutes.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I saw it pass over Brisbane tonight at -3.0 mag - very impressive. Unfortunately I was too slow to slew the scope to get a pic. There's another -3 pass in the next few days here.

[bones]

Last night 2/7/09. . I had no idea it was about to pass by. Got out of the car a 6pm looked up and there it was - bright as anything I had seen in ages. Yelled out to the kids to rush outside. They saw it still bright as and then noticed it fading away as it headed towards the north. I told them it must be the ISS. It seemed to meander slightly from a straight line path. I was stoked to have seen it by chance like that..

[Jules76 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by peter_4059

I saw it pass over Brisbane tonight at -3.0 mag - very impressive. Unfortunately I was too slow to slew the scope to get a pic. There's another -3 pass in the next few days here.

Did it pass over Brisbane a few days ago as well? Because earlier in the week (I think it was Monday) I saw what I assumed was a satellite, but I was not really sure at the time because I didn't think seeing satellite's in light polluted surburban skies was really possible. I meant to ask at the time but I didn't get around to it.

It was a fluke I even saw it at all. I just happened to be looking at the Moon with my scope, when I decided to have a look at Saturn (which was just a little bit below the Moon). As I was about to move my scope, I noticed this thing moving just below Saturn, but I was only able to observe it for about 20 seconds or so because at this time of year Saturn drops below the tree line behind my house. Saw a few more glimpses of it through the trees but that was about it.

It was about 7:05 PM. I went inside and checked Stellarium (with the Satellite plugin) but it had no Satellite it knew of in that area at the time. I don't know how reliable it is.

It just struck me as a bit odd as like I said, I didn't think I'd be able to see Satellites from my suburban backyard. Then I saw this thread and thought hmmm......that might explain it.

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

I saw it last night at -3.1 over Sydney. It was only at an altitude of some 45 degree but my word, it was the brightest I've ever seen. Imagine how bright it would be when overhead!!
Took a picture last night thought I've got the Progress cargo ship as well. Take a look HERE

[Octane (Humayun)]

Julian,

According to Starry Night Pro Plus, what you saw may have been the ERS 1 satellite (7:05 PM above Saturn), or an Iridium 24 (7:15 PM below Saturn).

Regards,
Humayun

[Jen]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Oh No!! more light pollution clogging up the skies.

[Jules76 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by Octane

Julian,

According to Starry Night Pro Plus, what you saw may have been the ERS 1 satellite (7:05 PM above Saturn), or an Iridium 24 (7:15 PM below Saturn).

Regards,
Humayun

Ah ok. I think I might of been a little off with my time (I think the microwave clock needs to be checked ), as it was definately below Saturn.

Still I'm quite suprised to be able to see a Satellite in the suburbs. Before getting into astromony, the last time I seriously looked in the sky at night was years ago camping in the Grampians. I remember not a minute going by that you wouldn't spot one slowing moving across the sky. I guess it's just a bit more rare in suburbs due to light pollution.

Anyway, thanks for clearing that up.