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Endeavour launch visible from UK

johnrt

By johnrt
in The Astro Lounge

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FraserClarke

FraserClarke

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Nice! It says it will be visible in S.Britain so why won't you be able to see it in the Midlands? Great news though :)

Presumably the track takes it south of the UK, so it will be low in the southern sky. At some latitude North, it will be below the horizon... It will depend on the exact track exactly how far North it will be visible from though.

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Dave

Dave

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If the launch is indeed at about 8:45 that evening, then the shuttle SHOULD be visible going across our sky about 20 minutes after launch. So it should be visible at around 9:05pm.

The Shuttle is always launched under the ISS orbit as the orbit itself passes over Cape Canaveral (OK it's the Earth rotating underneath the orbit) and luckily for us it is always launched eastwards and northwards, bringing it across our skies. The best way to get an idea of the path it will take is to watch for the track of the ISS when it is visible either side of the launch.

I just checked Heavens Above and the ISS passes across a bit later that evening at 9:32 and passes a little below Regulus in Leo at its highest (Unless the orbit changes drastically) as shown on this link:

http://www.heavens-above.com/PassDetails.asp?Session=kebgfecghibccdnojhjkbmoa&satid=25544&date=40662.8575434606

At 40 degrees above the horizon from my location in Northamptonshire, the shuttle should be visible for most of the country. The further north you are the lower in the sky it will appear.

As the external fuel tank (EFT) is jetisonned soon after launch, by the time they reach us, as long as the Sun isn't too far below the horizon and still shines on them, they are both visible. The brilliant white shuttle will be slightly higher and the ruddy, but still bright EFT will be slightly below the shuttle.

If we do get to view it, it's a grand sight.

Let's hope launch schedule stays on course.

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JB80

JB80

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The last mission just gone was Discovery's final mission, this April's one is Endeavours final mission and June will be the last Atlantis flight and last shuttle flight ever.

Well that's the plan anyway.

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