Skywatching
The shuttle launch this weekend will provide an unusual opportunity to see the shuttle and the International Space Station flying in formation. (Provided the shuttle launches on time, of course).
With liftoff of the Space Shuttle Discovery planned for Saturday afternoon, skywatchers across much of the United States and southern Canada could possibly be in for a real treat on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Should weather conditions permit, first in Florida to allow the launch [updates here] and then where you live to offer a clear view, there will be a spectacular opportunity to see both the Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS) flying across your local sky.
This is a sight that should easily be visible to anyone, even from brightly-lit cities.
Other satellites too
The appearance of either the Space Shuttle or the International Space Station moving across the sky is not in itself unusual. Truth be told, on any clear evening within a couple of hours of local sunset and with no optical aid, you can usually spot several orbiting Earth satellites creeping across the sky like moving stars. Satellites become visible only when they are in sunlight and the observer is in deep twilight or darkness. This usually means shortly after dusk or before dawn.
An nice opportunity to do a little skywatching, weather permitting. There are even sites which will tell you where to look and the best times to look.
Chris Peat's Heavens Above (http://www.heavens-above.com/)
NASA's SkyWatch (http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/)
Science@NASA‘s J-Pass (http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/JPass/)
I'll be out there Saturday evening, I think.
By Shawn, Thursday, 29 June , 2006 @ 6:40 pm
What state do you live in Gaius?
By Gaius, Thursday, 29 June , 2006 @ 6:45 pm
Iowa
By Shawn, Thursday, 29 June , 2006 @ 8:38 pm
Hmm, a Hawkeye, eh? Go Bucks!
By Blackhawk, Friday, 30 June , 2006 @ 7:24 am
Bucks???? I laugh at your pitiful ‘Bucks’, although we could all use more of them. Even if they don’t buy hapiness for some.
Go Hawkeyes!!!