ISS!

[Madhatter]

Just caught the ISS for the first time passing over dorset with clear skys, moved too fast for my telescope but wow i cant believe how bright it is!!!

[Madhatter]

looking at the ISS tracking site does this info mean it will be even brighter at 22.59pm?

Last pass was 3.4 mag, next is 1.9?

[The Sailor]

Was aligning when it went over, did not have anything ready to follow so just watch it to east. Must say it was very bright and it seemed a bit larger than normal, wondered if it was on a lower orbit than normal.

Jim

[NGC404]

From North Lincs tonight it kept disappearing behind clouds

Was still bright and impressive when it did pop into view

[dweller25]

Yes it was very bright tonight - a nice sight.

[Madhatter]

On the website it said it passed over at 3.4 mag, but tonight at 11 it passes at 1.8 mag? does anyone know if 1.9 mag is dimmer or brighter?.

[Ursa Major]

On the website it said it passed over at 3.4 mag, but tonight at 11 it passes at 1.8 mag? does anyone know if 1.9 mag is dimmer or brighter?.

1.8 is brighter than 3.4 if that is what it said.

Are you sure it isnt -1.8 and -3.4? If so than -3.4 will be brighter.

[Ursa Major]

You also might be interested in reading this Apparent magnitude - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It explains the magnitude scale and give examples of the differents magnitudes for different objects. Its quite interesting.

[Madhatter]

Oh damn your right it is -minus:( ah well still gota check it out at 11 and see how it is again:D.

Thank you for that link ursa i will have a good read of that:).

[EdF_uk]

I think -1.8 is brighter than 1.8. I'll be taking a look too but i see that it's going to be quiet low. Plus there is scattered cloud at the moment. It would be nice to see it for the first time.

Ed

[The Sailor]

Just went over, in darkness, maybe another time .

Jim

[Madhatter]

Bit dissapointing the second time, i caught a glimps of it just passing in beetwen pollox/capella as it rose from the west, but it looked very similar too other satilites, faint..visable for mabey 10 seconds.

First time round was mabey 5 times brighter or more and easily the brightest object in the sky at the time.

Could be another good pass at 9.49pm tommorow so fingers crossed:)

[EdF_uk]

Yes I didn't see it either, however it was into the earths shadow ver quickly. Tomorrow and the next day look much better though as it should be lit well past the UK.

Hopefully there will be clear skies tomorrow evening.

Ed

[trickytree]

Tomorrow there is a Russianvehicle docking, in theory would that make it brighter??

[Neil McRae]

Madhatter h

[Neil McRae]

Madhatter here is an image of ISS passing overhead on a 15 sec exposure

[rabbithutch]

What website(s) do you folks use to track the ISS? There are so many as to be confusing to me.

Also, the ones I looked at showed the current position of the ISS relative to a terrestrial track. Is there a way to determine when it will passing overhead in your specific location and where to look for it?

TIA (sorry for the minor hijack)

[Neil McRae]

I use "Heavens Above". Just register (its free) enter your lat and long and you get your predictions. Good viewing

[star_chaser]

gonna have a look tonight does it go west to east ?

[Neil McRae]

Mainly West to East but you can hane varying passes from South to South etc.

[trickytree]

Human Space Flight (HSF) - Orbital Tracking

Just pick your location and you're good to go.

[tomw28]

I use CalSky. I've got it set to email me every morning with Iridium Flares, ISS passes and the weather. The weather is usually pretty accurate which is nice!

[The Sailor]

I use Stellarium, has not failed me yet.

Jim

[Madhatter]

awesome pic Neil!

fingers crossed for tonights passover too be clear

[space3]

also use stellarium for iss times,

was out viewing lastnight and just as I was packing up, the iss passed over, pretty cool