Shuttle/Station Viewing

[RichardP]

For those in the Houston area, there will be a unique opportunity to see the Space Shuttle, the Space Station, and a Russian Progress fly over head tonight (7/28/09). It should look like three stars (with the station being the brightest) moving across the sky just past sun down.

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Following the predicted undock of STS-127 from the station today, if the sky is clear tonight, we in Houston should be able to see STS-127, followed by the station and the Russian Progress 34P, flying in a line nearly vertically overhead from northwest to southeast beginning at 9:12 p.m. through 9:18 p.m. Each spacecraft will fade into Earth's shadow at an elevation of 26 degrees.
Path: 33 degrees above NW to 24 degrees above SE
Maximum elevation: 78 degrees

The International Space Station Trajectory Operations Group (TOPO) provides updates via JSC Today for visible station passes at least two minutes in duration and 25 degrees in elevation. Other opportunities, including those with shorter durations and lower elevations or from other ground locations, are available at the Web site below.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...n_Space_Center
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Richard P.

[mitchntx]

A year or so ago seeing the space station happened.

While it sounds boring, it was actually quite fascinating.

Will we in the DFW area be able to see it if the skies clear up?

[RichardP]

Will we in the DFW area be able to see it if the skies clear up?

Other opportunities, including those from other ground locations, are available at the Web site below.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...as&city=Dallas



Dallas:
ISS Tue Jul 28/09:15 PM 3 minutes 60 40 above WNW 15 above SSE
SHUTTLE Tue Jul 28/09:15 PM 3 minutes 60 41 above WNW 14 above SSE

Not quite as good for viewing but still visible...


Richard P.

[mitchntx]

Actually yes ...

*** Granbury ***

ISS Tue Jul 28/09:15 PM 3min 73* 42* above WNW 16* above SE
SHUTTLE T ue Jul 28/09:15 PM 3min 74* 44* above WNW 14* above SE

[Rob Liebbe]

Thanks Richard.

[MikeP99Z]

Saw them, very cool. Thanks for the heads up.

[mitchntx]

Thanks for the heads up, Richard.

We had a small "watch" party out in our front drive.

Didn't get to see the Russian ship because of the cloud cover.

[jeffburch]

Neato.
Much more north to south and higher.

Jb

[rpoz27]

Very cool! Thanks!

[RichardP]

Didn't get to see the Russian ship because of the cloud cover.

Yea, the Progress was lagging behind a good 6 or so minutes. It was also very dim. Because of that, it's visible duration was much less. You would have had to been very lucky to catch that.

The shuttle and station were very bright tonight, though.


Richard P.