It's passing overhead in about an hour, rising in the West at 4:03.

About 4 minutes later it will catch the sun, and appear at it's brightest at about 4:09 in the southern sky at an angle of about 60 deg from the horizon.

It will then appear to slow down and dim before disappearing into the rising sun at 4:13.

If anyone sees it, post what you saw maybe. I'd stay up but my eyelids are drooping.

Where did you get this information from? I don't want to be looking outside at the stars like a ****! :P Not that many people will see me at that time...

Originally posted by andy4107
Where did you get this information from? I don't want to be looking outside at the stars like a ****! :P Not that many people will see me at that time...

some guy at nasa told me.....

http://science.nasa.gov/Programs/Pagebuilding/trackJPass.asp?zip=&latitude=53.38&longitude=-1.42&B1=Go
(click next pass)
better map
http://tinyurl.com/ayv7p

looks like I might be up

Interesting stuff! I'll probably have a look out for that then

Right then, off to the nearest hill for a shufti

What did you see? I didn't see much to be honest. I think all I saw was the POLICE HELICOPTER!? Oh noes!!!

It was there, right on target, appeared just above and to the right of the moon, gathered in brightness (even bright enough to shine through a thin cloud bank) and then swept of, getting dimmer to the SE horizon.

If you saw a big white blob moving noiselessy through the sky, it was the ISS.

Good display, not ideal, but good.

Aww.. I missed it Phan :(
I wish i had seen this thread earlier. When is it coming over next?

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
It was there, right on target, appeared just above and to the right of the moon, gathered in brightness (even bright enough to shine through a thin cloud bank) and then swept of, getting dimmer to the SE horizon.

If you saw a big white blob moving noiselessy through the sky, it was the ISS.

Good display, not ideal, but good.

Yeah I think I saw it then. I've never really looked up at the sky so I didn't have a clue what was what.

Still, I can say I saw it now... :)

Originally posted by vidster
Aww.. I missed it Phan :(
I wish i had seen this thread earlier. When is it coming over next?

Yes. How often does it fly over?

Originally posted by andy4107
Yes. How often does it fly over?


Well, it orbits the earth 15 times a day, but because the earth is spinning, it gradually slices over the planet, and because you can only see it when it is reflecting the sun at night, visible passes are much rarer than invisible ones, which happen all the time.

Tomorrow morning at about 4:30am is the next visible pass.

Should be a good one too, if the weather is clear, as it passes almost directly overhead.

see map here http://tinyurl.com/co5ej


And here's something for your diary, a Magnitude -6.7 daytime iridium flare (the sun is magnitude -27, the full moon is magnitude -12, the ISS is about -2 on a logarithmic scale)
Time:29 Aug - 18:04:51
Magnitude: -6.7
Degrees above the horizon: 72° (nearly vertical)
Compass Direction: 306° (NW )
Satellite: Iridium 65

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Do you think this is something to do with the U.S. plans to weaponise space ?

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Well, it orbits the earth 15 times a day, but because the earth is spinning, it gradually slices over the planet, and because you can only see it when it is reflecting the sun at night, visible passes are much rarer than invisible ones, which happen all the time.

Tomorrow morning at about 4:30am is the next visible pass.

Should be a good one too, if the weather is clear, as it passes almost directly overhead.

see map here http://tinyurl.com/co5ej


And here's something for your diary, a Magnitude -6.7 daytime iridium flare (the sun is magnitude -27, the full moon is magnitude -12, the ISS is about -2 on a logarithmic scale)
Time:29 Aug - 18:04:51
Magnitude: -6.7
Degrees above the horizon: 72° (nearly vertical)
Compass Direction: 306° (NW )
Satellite: Iridium 65
Don't forget to bump this on the 28th or 29th to remind us Phanerothyme :thumbsup:
Sounds like it's going to be a good one :)

I found another site that some might enjoy
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
It has a different picture each day but you can browse the archives.
If you look at july 29 there is a picture of the ISS and Discovery

Giving this a bump to remind any of us who will still be awake in 48 mins time.

LOOK UP!

That was amazing Phan! :D
I was expecting it to come from the East for some reason. I stood there looking but once i saw it (from the West) i knew what it was.

Brilliant stuff :clap:

Mind Boggling when you think about it!

I was fast asleep last night, due to having been out the night before.

for Vidster and anyone else's benefit, I'll try and remember to post ISS passes here when I can, as well as Iridium flares and any other spectacular sky event. August has been pretty good so far!

5 mins left folks!!

arg. missed it (not telling you where I was, but pretty ignominious).

Anyone see it at all?

I was stood outside looking with my daughter and we didn't see anything :(

Poo. Sorry about that. It shoulda been there (if I copied the info accross (ahem - I will check)).

Well there a few more more tonight

21:13:58s - Direction SE (142 deg) Elevation 19.7 degrees Magnitude -1.5 (dim)

21:19:18s Direction SE (142 deg) Elevation 20.1 degrees Magnitude -1.8(dim)

23:25:53s Direction W (263) Elevation 16.4 degrees Magnitude -3.1 (properly bright that one, but low)

03:17:09 Direction ESE (117) Elevation 23.6 degrees Magnitude -3.7 (again very bright)

05:23:12 Direction SW (214) Elevation 65.9 degrees Magnitude -5.6

Viewing conditions should be pretty good.

the next visible ISS pass is
9/01 09:06:57pm
Rises: SW
Sets:E
Duration:09:36
Lit by sun (visible) for:05:05
Max Elevation SSE 21 deg above the horizon

I'll have a look forn the first three 8) I should be snoring for the last two though.

They won't be spectacular, even in a clear sky, but you're looking for a light slowly winking on and off, brighter than all other stars, but not 'spectacular'.

20 in about 20 minutes look to the South East sky, low on the horizon at about 20 degrees.

How high is 20 degrees?

make a simple inclinometer http://www.exploratorium.edu/math_explorer/howHigh_makeInclino.html

Basically if you live surrounded by terraced housing you wont see it from your garden. A good spot with a clear view of the horizon is required.

Now, you have 12 minutes to build your inclinometer!

I've already missed the first two trying to sort computers out :rolleyes:

I'm going to see the third one for sure! (unless the hills to the west block it)

Hey Phan,
I don't suppose you know if the ISS or something similar passed over tonight (Tue 6th) at approx 21:46 from the West (possibly NW) direction?

I've just got back with the dog and saw something awfully bright that looked just like the ISS i saw a couple of weeks back :?

ISS pass this afternoon:
05:23:57pm
rises:W
sets:E
transit time:10:04
lit for:06:48
max elevation:59 deg in the southern sky.

Weather is not looking good though.

The Space station will be overhead in about 10 minutes.

Look into the western sky at about 5:38 it will track from the western horizon, up into the southern sky and will set in the SSE.

Looks like a plane at first...

Eyes up for a full house!

Sorry - missed it - any chance on Friday evening?

I'll phone them and see if they can make it :P

Yeah - about 6pm is good for me, but make sure they know I'll be on a meal break. If they're late I'll never look for it again!

Oh, and not to steep an angle of approach, I'm not looking up that much.

Thanks very much.

Bet the view's better from the other end. But I'm not getting up in the middle of the night for any less than that I'm afraid :)

Originally posted by barnie41
Yeah - about 6pm is good for me, but make sure they know I'll be on a meal break. If they're late I'll never look for it again!

Oh, and not to steep an angle of approach, I'm not looking up that much.

Thanks very much.

The best they can do, if they floor it, is to get to sheffield at 17:38:38 tonight (Jan 13) - same deal, rising in the west setting in the SE, climbing to about 30 deg above the horizon.

The whole pass takes 9 minutes, but the ISS will only be lit by the sun for about 7 minutes.

And then again on Saturday 16:28:11. This one goes right overhead, West to East.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme


And then again on Saturday 16:28:11. This one goes right overhead, West to East.

I'll be looking out for this one Phan although i'm not too confident with the cloud around at the minute :?

Thanks for the headsup though! :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Phanerothyme


And then again on Saturday 16:28:11. This one goes right overhead, West to East.

There's some pretty big gaps in the clouds at the minute. Hopefully we'll get the chance to see it :)

Tonight - good night for viewing, might even try a long exposure pic =

Iss is showing - missed the 18:01 pass next pass is:
07:36:40pm rising in the W setting in theE light by sun (visible for)04 mins 58 seconds

Happy viewing!

Just had a look at the sky track of the space station and it should pass directly in front of the moon at about 19:40pm.

in about 7 mins!

I saw it Phan...plain as day...coming approx from the SW direction approx, and travelling like the clappers.

Passed just under the Moon. Wife saw it too...we're just defrosting inside the house now....Many thanks for the tip-off.

Amazing isn't it?

Two more passes tomorrow evening - in about the same bit of the sky, close to the moon.

First one is at 18:26 and is lit for 8 minutes
The second is at 20:01 and is lit for just 4 minutes

I missed tonights Phan :?

I'll be looking out for them tomorrow though ;)

Here is a link to a site that has all the passses on http://www.heavens-above.com/main.asp?Loc=Sheffield&Lat=53.383&Lng=-1.466&Alt=76&TZ=GMT it even has the iridium Flares that are also worth looking for.

Damn....I didn't see this thread until just now, and I missed it this evening....it's a beautiful clear night as well here:|

Almost time to look up to the skies peeps!

[EDIT] little vidsterette watched it with me. She thinks it's cool 8)

Saw it again tonight, Phan. Travelling over the eastwards side.....seemed to be some illumination on each side of it....definetely not a plane though.....looked slower tonight because it was well past it's zenith when I went outside. at about 6.33 pm.

Will be there for the next pass tonight ...... though it's like a fridge outside again.:banana: :banana: :banana:

For all the Space Station Watchers, roused from indolence by Phanerothyme, me included, this link may be of interest.....

International Space Station (http://international-space-station.foosquare.com/)

the NASA J-Pass app is back online - http://science.nasa.gov/Programs/Pagebuilding/trackJPass.asp?zip=&latitude=53&longitude=-1&B1=Go

tomorrows 18:50 pass is lit for the whole 10 minute overflight, almost directly overhead (azimuth 63 deg)

and here's a pic I took last night - not impressive, used the 4 second "fireworks" mode on the digicam to capture it - http://www.netheredge.com/galleries/iss-1.jpg

(hint - it is the straight line on the left - the big blob in the middle is the moon)

Missed tonight's visible passes though ... glad the Vidsterette thought it was cool - Britain needs astronauts and space scientists if we want to be a part of the Space economy and we will be relying on people like her (and my boy!)

I intended to see the second pass tonight but got involved on SF again.....

Will definitely look again tomorrow. Do you know the names/original countries of those in there at the moment?

not off hand no ... <goes to have a look>

here - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition12/index.html

If you want to talk to them - you'll need this though:
from - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/

Frequencies
Worldwide downlink for voice and packet 145.80
Worldwide packet uplink 145.99
Region 1 voice uplink 145.20
Region 2 and 3 voice uplink 144.49
Worldwide uplink for cross band voice repeater
437.80
Callsigns for the ISS
Bill McArthur KC5ACR
Valery Tokarev (no call)
Russian callsigns RS0ISS, RZ3DZR
U.S.A. callsign NA1SS
Packet station mailbox callsign RS0ISS-11
Packet station keyboard callsign RS0ISS-3
Packet Digipeater ARISS



I can't make sense of what to do with that info - dunno if JoeP has a rig, but I bet the conditions are good for making contact.

If you want to talk to them - you'll need this though:
Frequencies
Worldwide downlink for voice and packet 145.80
Worldwide packet uplink 145.99
Region 1 voice uplink 145.20
Region 2 and 3 voice uplink 144.49
Worldwide uplink for cross band voice repeater
437.80
Callsigns for the ISS
Bill McArthur KC5ACR
Valery Tokarev (no call)
Russian callsigns RS0ISS, RZ3DZR
U.S.A. callsign NA1SS
Packet station mailbox callsign RS0ISS-11
Packet station keyboard callsign RS0ISS-3
Packet Digipeater ARISS

Trust you to remind me now, I haven't got the radio to do that now.....skint in 1985....had to sell the 2metre set-up and the HF Outfit.

Always said I would buy some more when I retired.........bought a computer instead..........oh sod it....another clanger to add to the rest:)

If you want to talk to them - you'll need this though:


I can't make sense of what to do with that info - dunno if JoeP has a rig, but I bet the conditions are good for making contact.

I understand it perfectly.....the packet radio side was a Radio Ham development which is akin to the Bit Torrent system now on computers, "packets of ASCII code are sent and recieved, and translated by computer software"......................into the the written format.

The second pass faded out half way across the sky. The sky was completely clear. Anyone watching and didn't know what is was must have thought it was a UFO :hihi:

4/26
rises: 09:42:16pm WSW
sets:E
duration:09:52
sunlit:06:52
max elevation:45deg SSE

4/26
rises: 09:42:16pm WSW
sets:E
duration:09:52
sunlit:06:52
max elevation:45deg SSE

Thanks Phanerothyme.......will be out if clear skies are showing.

Saw it the last but one time........magnificent............

It said on the weather earlier that it would 9.24 tonight moving west to east.

I think nasa are probably right. Bloke got the last two digits on the time transposed I reckon.

Blast.........I had all intentions of seeing it last night but got side tracked and forgot.
When is it due next Phan.

Blast.........I had all intentions of seeing it last night but got side tracked and forgot.
When is it due next Phan.
You're ok....it's tonight (26/4):D

is the cloud clearing yet?

You need one of these (http://www.bigha.com/seeker/index.php)

when can I see it? also where to look ?
thank you

I just thought Id post this coz Ive just seen a slow moving white light [like a shooting star] as I was walking up my road about 20 mins ago.Remembered seeing this thread but it seems Im a day late? Is it possible I could still have seen it tonight coz I definately saw something!

The latest pass on the 28th started at 22:27 and ended at 22:36 - so if you were out & about around then, and saw it high in the southern sky, then that was it!

You need one of these (http://www.bigha.com/seeker/index.php)

John, you're right. I do. What a great idea.

does it look like a star but more 'roundish' and without so much 'twinkle'??
also please post the next time it can be seen, thanks

does it look like a star but more 'roundish' and without so much 'twinkle'??
also please post the next time it can be seen, thanks

It looks like a big blobby white star that takes about 10 minutes to go from one horizon to another. It is always passing overhead, but can only be. seen at night when it is able to reflect the suns rays into your eyes. Visible passes are much rarer than invisible ones.. It should be brighter than anything else in the night sky apart from the moon. If it has any flashing lights on, it is an aircraft.

There are two good passes tonight to be seen if the sky is clear enough:
1. 20:52:34 - rises WSW; sets E; lit by sun (visible) for 08m54s; Max elevation 44deg in SSE

2. 22:27:27 - rises W; sets ESE; lit by sun (visible) for 05m22s; Max elevation 56deg in S

It looks like a big blobby white star that takes about 10 minutes to go from one horizon to another. It is always passing overhead, but can only be. seen at night when it is able to reflect the suns rays into your eyes. Visible passes are much rarer than invisible ones.. It should be brighter than anything else in the night sky apart from the moon. If it has any flashing lights on, it is an aircraft.

There are two good passes tonight to be seen if the sky is clear enough:
1. 20:52:34 - rises WSW; sets E; lit by sun (visible) for 08m54s; Max elevation 44deg in SSE

2. 20:52:34 - rises W; sets ESE; lit by sun (visible) for 05m22s; Max elevation 56deg in S

Phan, it's not that I don't appreciate the info, more that I don't have a compass...

Any chance you could do a screen grab from Google Earth, and show the rough trajectory of the station over Sheffield?

No worries if not!

N

You know where north is, right? You won't need exact angles or owt. It is passing over the UK slightly south of sheffield, at an altitude of about 400 km.

No compass required, just look to the southern sky at the allotted time (it is very punctual)- and look for a bright object travelling from right to left at a fair clip.

You know where north is, right? You won't need exact angles or owt. It is passing over the UK slightly south of sheffield, at an altitude of about 400 km.

No compass required, just look to the southern sky at the allotted time (it is very punctual)- and look for a bright object travelling from right to left at a fair clip.

Cheers, my garden faces due south, but I may go to a less cluttered area.

The two pases you've mentioned appear to be at identical times, are they the same pass, or is it a typo?

:huh:

(I know it's probably me!!)

Cheers, my garden faces due south, but I may go to a less cluttered area.

The two pases you've mentioned appear to be at identical times, are they the same pass, or is it a typo?

:huh:

(I know it's probably me!!)

I think you will be out of luck anyhow, the cloud is looking pretty set in.

But I've corrected the times, I had posted the same pass twice.

I saw it during the day a couple of months ago. It was almost spooky in a way. I suppose i was expecting the engine noise of an aeroplane :hihi:
I think once you've seen the ISS for the first time it becomes instantly recognisable in future sightings.

When Phan posts a time it appears exactly on time. My daughter loves going out to see a 'space ship' passing over ;)

Bugger! I will see it ! where can I find its 'timetable'? so I dont have to keep pestering you.
thanks

Psyn - do what I do, subscribe to the NASA J-Pass generator here - http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/JPass/PassGenerator/

It emails me details of all passes overhead. For reference Sheffield is at about 53 deg latitude and about -1 longitude.

You can also have a lokk round the nasa j-pass site for links to othr realtime displays and such cool stuff.

Using Jtrack 3D I can see the ISS is just passing over Capetown, SA.

next pass in one day and five minutes - southern sky, 51 deg elevation.

Dammit - I saw this a day late, I can't believe it!

I've tried signing up to the email list, but I'm not entirely sure I've done it right.

Grateful if you could keep this thread up-to-date Phan. Are visible passes only once a year or so?

hehe, no. The ISS passes overhead pretty often, it's just that I forget to post them

Visible passes over the next few weeks are all at stupid O'clock in the morning - until Late March ... see http://tinyurl.com/2pm7pa