ISS pass tonight

fringe_dweller · #1 23-01-2006, 11:17 PM

wow did anyone see that huge 10 min pass the ISS made tonight at 9:50 ish SA time - awesome - was easily visible all the way till it dissapeared below the SE horizon/adelaide hills. Thats what i love about astronomical strolling - its a luck dip - box of chocolates??

PS with that lame saying - You hope it would be a box of Haighs assorted truffles or belgian choccies tho

, not a box of no-brand generics!
friend pointed out they have the pictures on the front of the box of the contents most of the time anyway - so that saying is rather strange hehe

danielsun · #2 23-01-2006, 11:34 PM

Yes!!! By total fluke. I stepped outside for one min to see if the clouds might be clearing and seen a very bright satellite popping out through the breaks in the clouds. so i figure that must have been it!!!

Seemed to be coming from nth west and yes heading the sth east.
i only caught it for about 10 secs!!!

fringe_dweller · #3 24-01-2006, 12:18 AM

yes it was by fluke for me too danielsun - there the best ones usually :-)

Noidea · #4 24-01-2006, 12:41 AM

Could it be possible that I saw it in Sydney? It was around 10pm, I was also checking the clouds out and noticed a very bright light much higher than aircraft traveling quite fast NW to SE before it disapeared behind clouds. It was larger and brighter than anything else in the sky.

barees63 · #5 24-01-2006, 08:39 AM

funny you should ask.. my daughter and I were out with the scope last night and saw the what I assume was the ISS (North Canterbury, NZ) it was just amazing, brightest thing in sky moving faster than a normal satellite.. also saw what I assume was an Iridium flare for the first time.. a very bright regular flash in the easten sky (not an aircraft).

#6 24-01-2006, 11:18 AM

Sure did moving NW to SE about 40deg above horizon, very bright.

fringe_dweller · #7 24-01-2006, 11:33 AM

Noidea, ran sydney in http://www.heavens-above.com/ came up with
23 Jan mag 2.9 start time 22:23:38 alt. 10º az. SW, max alt. 22:24:46 alt. 12º az. SSW finish 22:25:5, 10º az. S
from http://www.heavens-above.com/passsum...416666667&Mag=
not as good a pass as we had unfortunately - but the good thing is they happen 3 or 4 times a day - SWEET!
Bruce - heavans above wouldnt recognise canterbury!??

the other one you mention was probably what they call a tumbler - they flash as they rotate i believe

fringe_dweller · #8 24-01-2006, 11:35 AM

yes it was a nice night for looking up Exfso :-) glad you caught it too mate

stinky · #9 24-01-2006, 11:41 AM

Spotted it by accident night before last. At -0.5 it was spectacular, last night was only 1.2.

But best of all was an Iridium flare of -5!!! Just on sunset .... fantastic!

BerzerkerNerd · #10 24-01-2006, 10:24 PM

Yes was blown away too, it was in the sky for around 20 seconds?? big and bright. Man it seemed low. Two nice Iridium flares at my location recently, all seen accidentally! and confirmed afterwards.

rumples riot · #11 24-01-2006, 10:29 PM

Nah, missed it. Too busy talking here. Saw it about a month ago though. Very bright.

Noidea · #12 24-01-2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

Noidea, ran sydney in http://www.heavens-above.com/ came up with
23 Jan mag 2.9 start time 22:23:38 alt. 10º az. SW, max alt. 22:24:46 alt. 12º az. SSW finish 22:25:5, 10º az. S
from http://www.heavens-above.com/passsum...416666667&Mag=
not as good a pass as we had unfortunately - but the good thing is they happen 3 or 4 times a day - SWEET!

Not fair, clouds in Sydney mean I missed a pass at 911PM, maybe tomorrow. Thanks for the link fringe dweller.