Shuttle - any chance?

[Staypuft]

Forgive the newb question, but does anyone think that it will be possible to catch sight of the space shuttle on its final mission?

[brantuk]

Check heavens-above website - they publish the times of passes over the UK - sometimes twice in one night

[Psychobilly]

No visible passes of the ISS for the next 10 days for me .. and seeing as that's where the shuttles heading...

[Staypuft]

Thanks Brantuk, I will take a look!

[Photosbykev]

29th of July is the next visible pass of the ISS for me on Anglesey and then it is visible virtually every day of August The ISS - PhotosbyKev

[Stephen]

I don't think there is a chance of seeing Atlantis by night

[lukebl]

Calsky gives you a lot of information.

All the passes seem to be in the daytime (at least from my location in Norfolk). If you're in the right location, the Shuttle transits the moon tomorrow afternoon at around 16:46 BST. You'll have to be quick as it only takes a couple of seconds to cross the moon and will only be 8" across. Here's a map showing the centre line of the transit. Hull and Carlisle look to be good locations! There are a few occasions when it transits the sun too.

[lukebl]

And here's the centreline for a transit of the sun (whilst docked with the ISS) on the morning of 19th July.

[Psychobilly]

That ones "interesting".... very close to me .. would have to go to the other side of the Valley to get an unobstructed view...

[Photosbykev]

And here's the centreline for a transit of the sun (whilst docked with the ISS) on the morning of 19th July.

just typical, I live in Gloucester but will be on Anglesey on the 19th lol

[lukebl]

You have to be very close to the centreline to see the transit. On the 19th, I am only 3.93 kilometres from the centreline, and I miss it!

[Psychobilly]

Any chance of a closeup of the Swansea Area please?

052d 49m 03.19s 003d 54m 53.00s W is the office carpark...

Well according to Calsky our office carpark is 0.68KM away from the centerline for the transit based on the current TLE's... Is that close enouhg?

Peter...

[lukebl]

Here you go Peter. Here's a Calsky screen grab showing the pass near Swansea. Ain't Calsky great!

[Psychobilly]

Thanks Luke...

Theres a fair bit of difference beween the shuttle path and the ISS which is "worrying" seeing as they are due to be docked...

Centerline, closest point →Map: Longitude= 3°54'42"W Latitude=+51°38'42" (WGS84) Distance=0.68 km Azimuth=162.7° SSE Path direction= 72.7° ENE ground speed=7.621 km/s width=0.0 km max. duration=0.0 s

Sun elevation=+39° Elongation from Sun=8°

Orbit source: NASA predicted orbit

[lukebl]

Thanks Luke...

Theres a fair bit of difference beween the shuttle path and the ISS which is "worrying" seeing as they are due to be docked...

Centerline, closest point →Map: Longitude= 3°54'42"W Latitude=+51°38'42" (WGS84) Distance=0.68 km Azimuth=162.7° SSE Path direction= 72.7° ENE ground speed=7.621 km/s width=0.0 km max. duration=0.0 s

Sun elevation=+39° Elongation from Sun=8°

Orbit source: NASA predicted orbit

Hmm. Maybe they will have undocked at that stage as the Shuttle is due back home the next day.

[Psychobilly]

indeed they have...

Monday 18th July...

6h54mSTS-135Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-135): ATLANTIS UNDOCKS FROM ISS

7h24mSTS-135Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-135): ATLANTIS FLYAROUND OF ISS BEGINS

8h16mSTS-135Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-135): ATLANTIS FINAL SEPARATION FROM ISS