Spot the Space Station

[illinoisbrassman]

deleted

Wow, He deleted his posts here as well. Too bad, I really enjoyed his pictures.

 

[Auger]

I think I need to renew my spot the station email alerts, I haven't seen one in a awhile.

I use the Google Sky Map on my phone to look for interesting things, usually when sitting outside around a fire with my daughter looking for something cool to point out to her.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Italian astronaut Samantha Christoforetti aboard the ISS, wearing a Starfleet uniform while awaiting the docking of the Dragon capsule, which is bringing the 1st espresso machine designed to operate in zero G. And another shot of her in another Starfleet uniform.
Regards, GF.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Just a quick FYI: The Lyrids meteor shower peaks tonight.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/lyrid-meteor-shower-04212015/
Just thought some of you might enjoy the show.
Regards, GF.

 

[passedpawn]

Bill Nye, the science guy, is also the CEO of the Planetary Society. I think it used to be a mostly PR and educational endeavor, but they must have got some funding, because they built a space craft and launched it (I believe they launched one earlier on a Russian carrier that didn't make it to space )

It's a Cubesat, or a small compact container that unfolds into a giant solar sail. Very cool. This stuff is so sci fi, but it's real too. Think about something about the size of a loaf of bread.

Anyway, Lightsail uses the sun's rays as motive force. I think it moves pretty slow, but given time it can speed up. Pretty cool. I heard about it on the Startalk Radio podcast, where Nye occasionally hosts for Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

http://sail.planetary.org/



Fans of Carl Sagan:

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Here's a nice shot of the ISS transiting the moon. I didn't shoot it, I found it online here:
http://time.com/3948830/international-space-station-moon/
Look closely at the upper right corner. Just thought some of you might like the pic/story.
Regards, GF.

 

[unionrdr]

Really nice color shot! Kinda funny seeing the ISS in that shot, as if it's nearer the Moon...

 

[unionrdr]

Here's a video I'm watching now from the New Horizons mission. It shows a 1st pic of Pluto, I assume, when it was nearing closest approach with data return time taken into account...

I've waited a lifetime to see this!

 

[Quadrupled]

Here's a nice shot of the ISS transiting the moon.

That's no ISS. It's a TIE Fighter.

 

[passedpawn]

That's no ISS. It's a TIE Fighter.

Indeed. How quickly fiction has become fact.

 

[unionrdr]

Here's the Friday New Horizons report. Some interesting stuff in this one;

 

[Quadrupled]

Saw this today and thought it to be related enough to be shareable.

ETA - link looks to be having problems. It's a video of the moon passing in front of the earth as taken by NASA.

 

[KIRBREW]

Thanks for the link! I signed up for the messages, my oldest boy (6) loves everything related to space. He is going to excited to see the ISS, don't know if he'll be excited when I drag him out of bed in the early morning hours to see it though... On average how often a month do you have the possibility of seeing it transit?

 

[flars]

Thanks for the link! I signed up for the messages, my oldest boy (6) loves everything related to space. He is going to excited to see the ISS, don't know if he'll be excited when I drag him out of bed in the early morning hours to see it though... On average how often a month do you have the possibility of seeing it transit?

Enter your location for the schedule of sightings.
http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/index.cfm#.Vce9pXFVhBc

 

[passedpawn]

Thanks for the link! I signed up for the messages, my oldest boy (6) loves everything related to space. He is going to excited to see the ISS, don't know if he'll be excited when I drag him out of bed in the early morning hours to see it though... On average how often a month do you have the possibility of seeing it transit?

A few times a month. They usually are on successive days. I don't get up for the early morning ones, but I watch the evening ones.

I text my neighbors and we all go out together and toast the ISS crew. Good times in the hood.

 

[passedpawn]

FYI, the best meteor shower of the year is on top of us now. I haven't been looking (I just remembered). If you have a camera and know what Bulb mode is, good time to get it set up.

http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html

 

[KIRBREW]

A few times a month. They usually are on successive days. I don't get up for the early morning ones, but I watch the evening ones.

I text my neighbors and we all go out together and toast the ISS crew. Good times in the hood.

Thanks!

 

[gratus fermentatio]

FYI, the best meteor shower of the year is on top of us now. I haven't been looking (I just remembered). If you have a camera and know what Bulb mode is, good time to get it set up.

http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html

Did you shoot that pic? It's an AWESOME shot!
Regards, GF.

 

[passedpawn]

Did you shoot that pic? It's an AWESOME shot!
Regards, GF.

I wish.

Nope, pulled it off the webz. Early morning hours are when the meteor strikes will be visible, about 1 per minute. You'll want to be away from any street lights or other light pollution.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Perseids peak the night of the 12th (Wed. 08/12/15). I won't be able to watch properly as I have to work, but I'll go outside for a few minutes a few times during my shift, I might be able to see some of the brighter ones.
Regards, GF.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Aurora Australis, as seen from the ISS.

 

[passedpawn]

That's cool!

 

[Quadrupled]

Awesome

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Composite of ISS transiting the sun. Courtesy NASA.

 

[Quadrupled]

Composite of a TIE Fighter transiting the Death Star. Courtesy of The Empire.

Fixed

 

[Michigan_Wolfman]

What it says......

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Just an FYI: There will be a combination super moon (harvest moon) & lunar eclipse this Sunday evening 09/27/15. Here's some info on it:
http://www.space.com/30629-supermoon-lunar-eclipse-tetrad.html
Regards, GF.

 

[passedpawn]

Man, I hope we have clear skies! Thanks, gratus.

 

[bob1852]

Man, I hope we have clear skies! Thanks, gratus.

Skies will be crystal clear here.

It should be interesting, as the moon will already be in partial eclipse by the time it rises here.

I should take some pictures - usually these damn blood moons happen at ~3am....it'll be nice to not have to stay up so late to shoot this.

 

[unionrdr]

Makes me wish I wasn't in the city. Too much light pollution. Might break out the powerhog & tripod anyway?