Naked Eye Astronomy

[MarkS]

Galileo first turned his telescope to the skies 400 years ago. But even those without fancy equipment can watch the stars - here are five notable formations to look for.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8224433.stm

[Daniel]

Speaking of naked eye astronomy, I saw the most wonderfull sight last night while packing up the scope, 2 very bright objects moving across the sky at the same pace, about the brightness of venus, they were difflierent colours, actually looked just like Alberio with it's companion star, one was bright blue, the other bright orange.

A look on the net showed it was the space shuttle and the external fuel tank shortly after seperation, this was my first definite confirmed sighting of the space shuttle, something I won't forget in a hurry, it was easliy as visible as the ISS on most nights.

Daniel
:O)

[MarkS]

Nice one! Wish I'd seen it.

Mark

[Fay]

How lucky you were Daniel............

[mickw]

Mark........................................
Why didn't you get a picture ?

Is your "lucky camera" broken  ?

[Rick]

Catching ISS the Shuttle on its first orbit is tricky. Very unusual to see it and its tank. ISS should have been visible overhead about 03:21 UTC as well. There's another visible ISS pass at 03:45 UTC early tomorrow.

(Edit: s/ISS/the Shuttle/) 

[MarkS]

Rick,

I think you mean the Space Shuttle - not the ISS 

Mark

[Rick]

I think you're right... I'll fix it!