Thought I'd give any interested WABers another chance tonight, not only to see the ISS (International space station) but ALSO the Space SHUTTLE which was launched yesterday.
The shuttle will attempt to carry out work on the ISS in this mission, and at present it can clearly be seen chasing the ISS across the sky. Well, to be fair, when I took the following photographs, it was lagging about 25 minutes behind.
Use the link on my previous ISS post to get a LIVE TRACK of when you can expect to see the ISS over Britain. Also now on that link is a LIVE TRACK on when you can see the SHUTTLE over Britain.
I photographed the ISS (shorter trail, bluer sky) at 17:55. The camera is facing due East, and the star to the extreme right of the shot (near the neighbours roof) is procyon in Canis minor.
I then photographed the shuttle, at 18:20 (tonight). Again, the camera was facing due east, and the two stars in THIS photo are Castor and Pollux (The Twins of Gemini).
Both photographs were of 8 scond exposure length. (Sorry about the first - no time to set up a tripod - just handheld on my fence!)
Please remember that both the ISS and shuttle are travelling at speed, from west to east, and if you get them at the right time, (ie just after sunset or just before dawn they are very, very bright indeed).
Both the ISS are travelling at speeds of approximately 17,300 mph, and the shuttle fairly screams across the sky (VERY BRIGHT), because it has an altitude of about 230km, whereas the ISS is about 340km up, making it appear slower.
The ISS orbits the earth in about 91 minutes. Therefore, you may be able to see it again tonight at about 19:26, if there is enough sunlight over the Americas to reflect off its panels over the UK.
Anyway. There you go - the ISS and Shuttle, visible from Britain, if you want.
ps. Thanks Juliejam for yor comment in the last post. Much appreciated!
Doug
Linear Mode
