Satelite Watching

[amdx]

I took my son out to watch the ISS (International Space Station) pass by
at 5:43 this evening. My son saw it first but we weren't sure because
something else was moving at the same speed. We quickly realized
yes both objects were moving across the sky. At arms length they were
about thumb to pinky (spread out) distance apart.
When we got home I started looking online to see what the second
object was. Turns out to be STS129, the space shuttle!
Open these in two different tabs and see how close they are to each other.
The ISS.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544

The Space shuttle.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=36094

I don't know how long they will track.
Well, I know not past 9:30 tommorrow,
the shuttle is supposed to land.
Mike

 

[amdx]

It's always raining here.
I see puddles..

D from BC

I'm sorry about that.
It's kinda cold tonight 56*F might get into the low 40s.
Oh, I see your around 30*F.
I'm sorry about that.
Mike

 

[amdx]

I took my son out to watch the ISS (International Space Station) pass by
at 5:43 this evening. My son saw it first but we weren't sure because
something else was moving at the same speed. We quickly realized
yes both objects were moving across the sky. At arms length they were
about thumb to pinky (spread out) distance apart.
When we got home I started looking online to see what the second
object was. Turns out to be STS129, the space shuttle!
Open these in two different tabs and see how close they are to each other.
The ISS.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544

The Space shuttle.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=36094

I don't know how long they will track.
Well, I know not past 9:30 tommorrow,
the shuttle is supposed to land.
Mike

This must have been a rare occurance, look how close the were.
Maximum altitude is at ISS 17:44:57 STS 17:45:19 Within 22 seconds
Altitude ISS 37° STS 38°
Within 1°
Azimuth ISS 44° STS 44°
Same
Distance ISS 549 km STS 545 km
Within 4 km.

ISS = International Space Station STS= The Space shuttle- STS 129
Mike

 

[amdx]

I took my son out to watch the ISS (International Space Station) pass by
at 5:43 this evening. My son saw it first but we weren't sure because
something else was moving at the same speed. We quickly realized
yes both objects were moving across the sky. At arms length they were
about thumb to pinky (spread out) distance apart.
When we got home I started looking online to see what the second
object was. Turns out to be STS129, the space shuttle!
Open these in two different tabs and see how close they are to each other.
The ISS.http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544

The Space shuttle.http://www.n2yo.com/?s=36094

I don't know how long they will track.
Well, I know not past 9:30 tommorrow,
the shuttle is supposed to land.
Mike

http://www.heavens-above.com/
Try this. It shows other birds that will be in your view. Remember
brightness is an inverse scale. Something negative is very bright.

Yes, That's what I used to find the ISS would be coming over.
Then when we saw two objects, I tried to get back on that sight
and it was to busy for the next few hours.
Mike

 

[amdx]

Yes, That's what I used to find the ISS would be coming over.
Then when we saw two objects, I tried to get back on that sight
and it was to busy for the next few hours.
Mike

It helps to have an "atomic clock" when you do this kind of stuff.

My cellphone was close enough, but a compass would have helped
pinpoint the rising direction better. 4 hours later and I'm still excited!
Mike

 

[Rob]

This must have been a rare occurance, look how close the were.
Maximum altitude is at ISS 17:44:57 STS 17:45:19 Within 22 seconds
Altitude ISS 37° STS 38°
Within 1°
Azimuth ISS 44° STS 44°
Same
Distance ISS 549 km STS 545 km
Within 4 km.

The difference in distance between you and ISS and between you and STS
was 4 km. This does not mean they are 4km apart. That would only be
true if they were on a straight line from you to those objects.

 

[qrk]

I took my son out to watch the ISS (International Space Station) pass by
at 5:43 this evening. My son saw it first but we weren't sure because
something else was moving at the same speed. We quickly realized
yes both objects were moving across the sky. At arms length they were
about thumb to pinky (spread out) distance apart.
When we got home I started looking online to see what the second
object was. Turns out to be STS129, the space shuttle!
Open these in two different tabs and see how close they are to each other.
The ISS.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544

The Space shuttle.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=36094

I don't know how long they will track.
Well, I know not past 9:30 tommorrow,
the shuttle is supposed to land.
Mike

The mission before this one, we went out to watch the ISS and saw the
shuttle leading the ISS. Quite a treat and surprise. Although I had my
camera, the lens was too long to get both in. Yes, you can sort of
make out the ISS structure with a 500mm lens.

 

[krw]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

[snip]

I spent some time trying to get sane readings from the fluxgate
"magnetic" compass in a borrowed Garmin GPS. The rotation method
worked quite well, until I moved. When standing next to a vehicle, it
was nearly useless.

An example of British humor: I saw an old (1950s era?) British military
training film clip on how to use a compass. The instructor stated that it
was necessary to remove metal objects that could distort the readings from
the vicinity. He proceeded to remove pocket knives, coins, pens and his
belt buckle prior to reading his compass. He was standing next to a
locomotive.

An iron belt buckle and brass locomotive?

 

[amdx]

The difference in distance between you and ISS and between you and STS
was 4 km. This does not mean they are 4km apart. That would only be
true if they were on a straight line from you to those objects.

I understand that, at one time they were docked with each other.
Mike

 

[JosephKK]

I understand that, at one time they were docked with each other.
Mike

From a quick calculation, that 1 degree difference in right ascension
is about 75 miles.