Did I see the ISS earlier?

[werdnal]

Beautiful day here, and I was out at 6.45pm, shutting our chickens in for the night, when a bright "star" caught my eye. I was surprised as it wasn't completely dark, and it was so bright, but even more surprised when I realised it was moving!

Far too bright for a high level plane, but moving at about the same speed. Travelled from roughly NW direction, right over my head and towards the East. Was this it? Does it return roughly the same time tomorrow as my son would love to see it too?

Looked at various sights online but they all seem a bit to technical with grid refs and orbit details. Anyone recommend one that explains its route and recommended viewing times in layman's terms please?

Thanks

[eeyore]

for those that hate abbreviation that's the international space station

wiki isnt bad for laymans terms explanation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Earth_orbit

[carlos_dfc]

Hi Werdnal

It does sound like it was the ISS - and the ISS is currently going through a spell of being visible from UK in the evening.

Check out Heavens-Above.com
It gives times for ISS passes (plus lots of other satellites too)
Just enter your town, and it will give you times, direction and height.

Tomorrow night for instance - there's a good 'pass' between about 7:10pm and 7:15pm (Times vary a little, depending on location)

Venus is also visible in the West, VERY bright, as the sky is darkening.
ISS tends to pass from West to East, so will sometimes 'appear' quite close to Venus.
Easy to tell them apart though - Venus doesn't move (apart from setting slowly), whereas the ISS will pass clear across the sky in a few minutes.

edit
I just checked for Cornwall, tomorrow night (I guessed at St. Austell, but anywhere in Cornwall the figures should be pretty close to the following)
Appears:-
7:09-30sec, 10 degrees high (roughly a hand-span at arm's length)to the WNW
Highest point:-
Almost overhead - 7:12-25sec - 85 degrees high - NE
Passes over to the SouthEast and fades away:-
SE - 7:14-50sec - 14 degrees high

[artdemole]

Iagree with Carlos dfc.I saw ISS at18.45 w-e entering shadow at 18.50 on SUNDAY EVENING.Heavens above is a good site.I always log on and download daily satellites.Tonight list starts18.45 finishes 21.49.Then you can also down load Tomorrows early list if your about then.You can also pint off sky charts for your area as well..Best of luck ...

[werdnal]

Thanks for replies.

I found a site with more info and it said it would pass over here roughly 7.10pm tonight, so we all went out at 7.00pm and sure enough it appeared right on cue. Lovely view, passed almost overhead again, and lasted about 3 minutes.

Thanks for the tip about Venus, infact when we first saw it we thought it was the ISS, but obviously then realised it wasn't moving. Similar place to where the ISS appeared from and same sort of size and brightness.

[Jim Ford]

Could it have been an 'Iridium Flare'?

Iridium Flares

Jim

[werdnal]

No, it was the ISS. As said above, it appeared at the time and place expected, so now sure thats what it was.

[artdemole]

It'l be round again this evening 19.43 west to sse entering shadow 19.38.Thats here in Peasedown St John. N.E. Somerset

[artdemole]

Sorry thumbs were in wrong place. Times are19.34-19.38....