A special ISS pass over.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #1 13-11-2006, 08:01 PM

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

andrew · #2 13-11-2006, 08:11 PM

Wow, that would've been quite spectacular I imagine, and a great photo opportunity too..

Too bad it's gloomy and cloudy down here in Melbourne

stephenmcnelley · #3 13-11-2006, 08:32 PM

Yep, that thing gives viewers a peculiar feeling of amazement, and for people seeing it for the first time well you can just feel their wonder at our worlds achievements up there.

WadeH (Wade) · #4 13-11-2006, 09:09 PM

Wow!!!! That must have been spectacular. I wonder if the meteor would have been visible from the space station?

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 13-11-2006, 10:57 PM

I had some of the neighbourhood kids over this evening (and last night as well )to watch the ISS pass over. All of us missed the meteor though, what a pity.
Both passes were much brighter than predicted.

LOL Not only did we have the kids, but their pets came along as well. We had a Mastif, a Kelpie, a tiny fluffy dog , cats and of course the horse all in the front paddock. Good fun.

CoombellKid · #6 13-11-2006, 11:42 PM

Missed it, we were in thunderstorm mode... you guy's get any up there?

Btw, congrats on your capture making spaceweather.com!

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[1ponders] (Paul) · #7 14-11-2006, 12:11 AM

No thunder here Rob, just plenty of heat atm.

Thanks, I put a lot of the success on that wonderful little 12.5mm UO I got from you. I used it for eyepiece projection. You can see the other photos here using that eyepiece. Very happy with it ,I am

CoombellKid · #8 14-11-2006, 12:35 AM

We had heat earlier, it's cooled down a lil here now

Ummm Cool! hmmm you got the 12.5mm UO from me? sorry I dont remember
selling you one lol.

Actually I have found the 12mm, 9mm & 7mm HD's work wonderfully in the
PST, even over the XW's to some degree. Do you want the 18mm? I dont
use mine anymore and it isn't well suited to the PST.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

nightsky · #9 14-11-2006, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

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

G'Day,
I was sitting out the back last night Mon waiting on the clouds to clear and I was sitting facing Sth at about 21:20 give a minute either way when this really bright object,traveling very fast coming from NW and heading SE, I watched it all the way until a few clouds blocked my view,would that have been the ISS? and just before it disappeared, a meteor shot across heading, SE similar to what you saw.no tail but really bright. Did anyone else see it.BTW I'm at Woy Woy NSW.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #10 14-11-2006, 08:01 AM

We had a good view of the ISS on Sat night, in fact we tracked it by hand with both the 10" & 18" Dobs, very easy to make out a shape, rather than just a point of light !

[1ponders] (Paul) · #11 14-11-2006, 08:07 AM

I don't think so Arthur, the times are too far apart, my viewing was at 18:45. Have you checked out www.heavens-above.com ? It's a great site for getting satellite predictions.

Hotkey · #12 14-11-2006, 02:40 PM

Seems like a lot of folk caught the ISS last night. Had my scope set up and just walked out and happened to look up and like WOW. Never seen such a bright satellite, thought it must have been an Iridium Flare. Just came in and checked in Heavens Above, sure enough it was the ISS. Came in from the north and just headed straight for the SE. Even had the wife out and she was suitably impressed. Evan

neB · #13 14-11-2006, 02:48 PM

Man. I saw that one too - but no meteors.

Forgot about it until 6:45 when I asked my wife the time.

Raced outside with 2 year old twins in hand - or arms.

I was so bright my wife said it was a plane not the ISS.

Great display.

nightsky · #14 14-11-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

I don't think so Arthur, the times are too far apart, my viewing was at 18:45. Have you checked out www.heavens-above.com ? It's a great site for getting satellite predictions.

G'Day Paul,
How disappointing

now I can't tell family or friends "I saw the ISS!! "
anyway it was a really bright satellite

oh and meteor

wonder if anyone else was looking Sth at the time? and thanks for the link m8.
Arthur

[1ponders] (Paul) · #15 14-11-2006, 03:46 PM

Check out www.heavens-above.com and find out when the next pass near you is. Then you get all prepared and have a crowd there to check it out

nightsky · #16 14-11-2006, 03:59 PM

G'Day,
Thanks Paul, just registered

h0ughy (David) · #17 14-11-2006, 08:18 PM

I just saw this tonight and I thought it was a jet aircraft with lights on to start with. mate it was bright and HUGE!!!!!I suspect you could have easily photographed it, but caught me by surprise

Outbackmanyep · #18 15-11-2006, 12:10 PM

Hey!
I saw it too! About 7:45 aroundabouts, was from NW to SE, i followed it in bino's from start to finish....i thought it to be about -3 or -4 mag,.....was at the airstrip in anticipation of seeing and photographing M4 SWAN......dont forget you QLD's that NSW people are in daylight saving!!

Was an awesome sight!!!
AGAIN! AGAIN!

acropolite (Phil) · #19 18-11-2006, 11:16 AM

I had the same experience last night. HRH and I went to wiew what was predicted as a failrly ordinary pass (Mag 1.5) . 21:10:47 10 W 21:13:15 26 SSW 21:15:45 10 SE. Around a quarter of the way accross the sky the ISS flared I couldn't estimate the brightness but IMO it was brighter than the full moon. Venus at maximum mag is around -4 and in comparison to my recollection of Venus it was like having car headlights shine in your eyes. I'll be keeping an eye on Heavens Above for similar tracks and times after sunset to see if I can spot it again. As the others have said it is an awesome sight.

ving (David) · #20 18-11-2006, 12:28 PM

i missed it...

but thats the beauty of sky watching, you never know whats gunna happen