The International Space Station

devondumpling · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 06:00 PM

I am so excited having wanted to see this from some time and tonight was the night! Fantastic clear skies and I finnally managed to see it, all thanks to heavens-above, their really useful map was soooo helpful!

Plus with my husbands new Christmas present, a beginners telescope, I actually saw Jupiter too, that was amazing, it was our first time!

Farplace · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 06:05 PM

Congratulations! I havent seen the ISS yet. Must have been SO cool!! There's a lot to see up there.....
Jan

Deb London · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 06:05 PM

Will have to look that site up. Sounds great. I might be wrong, but I've been told the iPhone has a brilliant app that maps the night sky too.

Cordaline · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 06:17 PM

Lucky you!
Me next I hope!
What make is the telescope please?

Tringa · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 07:39 PM

Glad to hear you saw the ISS, DevonD.

Even though I know that many astronomical sightings are predictable I was more than a bit amazed to find, that the first time I looked for the ISS, the timings from HeavensAbove were spot on.

Can I suggest, if you have never looked skyward, wrap up warm and have a look.

Dave

Tringa · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 07:48 PM

Sorry, just thought the final sentence of my last post sounded very personal towards DevonD.

I did not mean it that way - it was a suggestion to anyone who has not looked at the night sky, .... just have a look.

Dave

artdemole · #7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 10:55 AM

I always use Heavens Above and saw times for ISS up till Wednesday night.Spotted it in between a large black cloud last night.Will be looking up wrapped up at 1733 West to South East this evening.My own Telescope Is a SKY WATCHER 1145 EQ1 Mount.

Boddie · #8 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

Will have to look that site up. Sounds great. I might be wrong, but I've been told the iPhone has a brilliant app that maps the night sky too.

I have a couple of these apps. For me the best is star walk. You hold the ipad up to the sky and it replicates exactly what you are seeing with guides. It uses an inbuilt compass.

Incredible

Susie · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boddie

I have a couple of these apps. For me the best is star walk. You hold the ipad up to the sky and it replicates exactly what you are seeing with guides. It uses an inbuilt compass.

Incredible

I'm not usually one for gagets but I envy you this.

My father in law has one of the star ones on his phone and was able to hold it up to where the moon should be last week and watch the lunar eclipse, even though the real view was obscured by cloud. So clever!

devondumpling · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 04:13 PM

The App for the phone sounds great, pity I don't have one of those phones, but I might just have found the very reason for getting one!!!!

And Heavens Above was exactly spot on, I originally used the NASA site, which is fine but the HEavens ABove gives the map which is the most helpful part, otherwise I wouldn't have the faintest idea where to start looking.

Actually forgot to mention with saw the ISS just with the naked eye, it was moving too quick for us to even think of using the telescope and as we are just beginners would never have been able to find it.

Definitely for a beginner use the H - Above people!