Space Station Tonight (Brunswick: moving, best, roach)

[Northern Maine Land Man]

The international space station will fly over Maine tonight. It will rise in the southwest and descend over the northeast It will be very bright and will be visible for about 4 minutes. It is rare for it to go so directly overhead in Maine. It usually picks up over the horizon and dips back down in a minute or so.

ISS
Wed Sep 09/08:06 PM
Duration 4 minutes
82 degrees up maximum elevation
Rises 10 degrees above WSW
Sets 23 degrees above ENE

Why does it set higher than it rose? That's where it enters the earth's shadow.

[FNolan]

I think this was last night. Saw it on channel 2 news I think.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by FNolan

I think this was last night. Saw it on channel 2 news I think.

It happens for several days in a row. Last spring I saw the shuttle and ISS docked together pass overhead here six times in two weeks. NASA human spaceflight's webpage has a chart you can check to see when it will pass within view of your home. Some passes are higher on the horizon and longer in duration. The high degree passes are the best as NMLM points out. The winter is even better as it's dark earlier and the cold sky is normally without haze. The shuttle is undocked now so it may be visible by itself. With the naked eye the ISS looks like a hazy bright light traveling swiftly across the sky.With a small telescope and a steady hand you can make out the solar panels on the ISS. The speed of it is quite impressive. According to the NASA site the Space Shuttle will be about one minute ahead of the ISS tonight during it's pass over Maine. With luck you can see them both!

[Maineah]

If you miss tonight there are more chances coming up this month: This is for the Brunswick area.

THE FOLLOWING ISS SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM TUE SEP 08 TO WED SEP 23
SATELLITE LOCAL DURATION MAX ELEV APPROACH DEPARTURE
DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Tue Sep 08/07:43 PM 5 30 11 above SSW 10 above ENE
ISS Tue Sep 08/09:18 PM 2 25 10 above W 25 above WNW
ISS Wed Sep 09/08:07 PM 5 81 10 above WSW 15 above NE
ISS Thu Sep 10/08:34 PM 2 33 29 above NW 20 above NNE
ISS Fri Sep 11/07:23 PM 4 77 26 above WSW 12 above NE
ISS Fri Sep 11/08:59 PM 1 20 18 above NW 20 above N
ISS Sat Sep 12/07:48 PM 3 32 28 above NW 11 above NE
ISS Sat Sep 12/09:23 PM < 1 13 13 above NNW 13 above NNW
ISS Sun Sep 13/08:13 PM 3 20 18 above NNW 11 above NE
ISS Mon Sep 14/08:37 PM 2 17 13 above NNW 16 above N
ISS Tue Sep 15/07:27 PM 3 20 18 above NNW 11 above NE
ISS Tue Sep 15/09:02 PM < 1 16 12 above NNW 16 above NNW
ISS Wed Sep 16/07:51 PM 3 17 13 above NNW 11 above NE
ISS Thu Sep 17/08:16 PM 2 19 12 above NNW 17 above NNE
ISS Fri Sep 18/08:40 PM 1 23 14 above NW 23 above NNW
ISS Sat Sep 19/07:29 PM 4 19 11 above NW 10 above ENE
ISS Sun Sep 20/07:54 PM 3 28 14 above NW 24 above NE
ISS Mon Sep 21/08:19 PM 1 52 25 above NW 52 above NNW
ISS Tue Sep 22/07:08 PM 5 29 12 above NW 11 above E
ISS Tue Sep 22/08:44 PM < 1 23 23 above W 23 above W
ISS Wed Sep 23/07:33 PM 3 65 25 above NW 23 above ESE




ONLY DAYS WITH SIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LISTED


THE FOLLOWING SHUTTLE SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM WED SEP 09 TO MON SEP 14
SATELLITE LOCAL DURATION MAX ELEV APPROACH DEPARTURE
DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

SHUTTLE Wed Sep 09/08:06 PM 5 83 10 above WSW 15 above ENE
SHUTTLE Thu Sep 10/08:32 PM 2 33 30 above NW 20 above NNE
SHUTTLE Fri Sep 11/07:22 PM 2 51 51 above NE 12 above ENE
SHUTTLE Fri Sep 11/08:56 PM 1 20 19 above NW 20 above N
SHUTTLE Sat Sep 12/07:44 PM 3 33 29 above NW 11 above NE
SHUTTLE Sat Sep 12/09:20 PM < 1 15 15 above NNW 15 above NNW
SHUTTLE Sun Sep 13/08:08 PM 3 20 19 above NW 11 above NE




ONLY DAYS WITH SIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LISTED

[FNolan]

I stand corrected Might try to get a look at it. Tried the metors awhile back and only saw 2, wife didn't see any. I assume the shuttle and ISS will be like a star moving across the sky ?

[starwalker]

Thanks NMLM! It's even looking to be clear here in Corinth tonight. We'll be looking!

[mainebrokerman]

i think i just saw it going west to east, then i saw another bright light behind it (wasnt a plane)

[starwalker]

yeppers, that was them, the International Space Station followed by the Shuttle. Great viewing here in Corinth too, though there was a bit of a cloud at the apex as the ISS passed, but it had moved by the time the SS got to that point.

[Maineah]

Just saw them both....very cool sight! The shuttle was about 10 degrees ahead of the ISS and slightly east of it.

[mainebrokerman]

while looking at the stars, there is one very bright one in the southern sky, any astronomers know what that is?? a star? planet?