You see, space is extremely big, and, well, you get the idea..
As the Chairman of Astronomy Ireland David Moore puts it, “Ireland just happens to be in the right place at the right time”, so they’ve set up a phoneline with details of when the International Space Station will be visible overhead through the weekend. The bonus feature is that, after a three month delay to repair storm damage, the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Mission STS-117 will, weather permitting, be taking off later tonight [12.38am BST - Ed] to rendevous with the ISS and build a new solar array ahead of the arrival of the Columbus Laboratory module. NASA has all the usual online extras ready.. TV coverage and Launch blog included. Adds In the comments Frank points to the Heavens Above where, by entering your nearest town, you can find the details of when the ISS, et al, will be visible overhead. And here are the sky and star charts with the visible pass details for tonight, based on Belfast More This ground track plot is very cool too.
Pete,
I got pass times at the following website. Just fill in your town and then select ISS on the main page.
http://www.heavens-above.com/selecttown.asp?CountryID=UK
23:59 tonight.
Just realised how cool that site is, if you click on the pass date it gives a star chart with the path of the ISS across the sky.
Yep. Very cool. Thanks Frank.
And with BBC weather predicting a cloud free night I’m going to keep the tiddlers up. Hard luck to those in the West.
Make sure you get the timing right.. there’s only about a five minute window for the ISS.
Excellent. That was great.
Anybody got info on the satelite tv on pc as advertised on this site http://www.secretsatelite.com
any comments welcome
that was really cool. perfect night, clear skies, cup of tea, rapidly orbiting space station – a great mix.
was going to go to the nearest bit of high ground to watch it, but that would have been the giant’s ring, and i thought maybe not the place for a lone male to visit on a fri night at midnight, so stayed on my doorstep instead.
just out of curiosity does anyone know the orbital velocity of your average space station?
biff
i was more struck by the “track anyone’s mobile phone for 16p” ad; is that really legal?
Just a little word of thanks to PB for regularly lifting our eyes above the relatively-inconsequential mundanity that is NI by introducing threads like this.
Not just the space-related stuff either, but also the arts, literature and the archaeological.
If we remain one-dimensional it will not be his fault.
Thanks Pete.