ISS Prediction

[Rick]

All earlier in the evening now, of course, and plenty more whee ISS goes into eclipse before it reaches its highest point... Friday's looks promising.

[MarkS]

Yes, tonight's one look good.  A very bright pass, rising in the West shortly after 8:20pm (BST) and passing almost directly overhead a few minutes later.

Time to retrieve my sawn-off broom handle ...

[Rick]

Looks like ATV-1 "Jules Verne" is also making a visibe pass tomorrow, rising just north of west at about 7:27pm, and passing almost overhead about 7:32pm (BST).

Then on Sunday on a similar track rising 7:40pm and overhead 7:44pm, which is just a couple of minutes after ISS and on a slightly different track.

Monday it rises about 7:53pm and is overhead about 7:57pm, about ten minutes before ISS.

Tuesday, 7:06pm and 7:10pm, but by then ISS seems to be out of the observable window.

[Rick]

Monday it rises about 7:53pm and is overhead about 7:57pm, about ten minutes before ISS.

Tuesday, 7:06pm and 7:10pm, but by then ISS seems to be out of the observable window.

...or not, if things go according to plan.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7639548.stm

[Rick]

Then on Sunday on a similar track rising 7:40pm and overhead 7:44pm, which is just a couple of minutes after ISS and on a slightly different track.

Caught both of them. Jules Verne was about mag 0 at its brightest.

[MarkS]

Rats!  I caught the ISS but forgot to look out for the Jules Verne.



Both images: Canon EOS 350D on Celestron C11 at F10 , ISO 800, 1/2000s
Conditions were poor - sky was moisture laden and the seeing was bad.

[Carole]

Even better images yet again!!!

[MarkS]

Thanks Carol. 

I'm now in the process of inventing a new technique which I intend to use on Thursday night's pass.  If it works I'll reveal all ...

[MarkS]

DSC was a washout but tomorrow (Sat 6 Dec) night provides the final bright (mag -1.9) opportunity in the current run of ISS sightings.

It begins its pass over Sidcup/Orpington at 4:20pm.  This is quite early but good focusing can be achieved by using the moon.

More info at:
http://www.heavens-above.com

Or Rick's link at:
http://www.chocky.demon.co.uk/oas/predictiss.txt

[Mike]

If you go to Heavens Above they are also doing pass predictions for the toolbag.

[Fay]

Mark, you know we will be expecting an image of the tool bag now!!!

[Rick]

The toolbag features, more by accident than design, as "ISS DEBTOOLBAG" in the monster list of predictions for High Elms in http://www.chocky.demon.co.uk/oas/predictions.txt

[MarkS]

Rick,

Your monster list has no ISS and no Toolbag prediction for tonight ...

Mark

[Rick]

Hmmm... The following predictions were calculated on Thursday. A new set should be calculated sometime today, and will probably differ, but the monster list does cut off if the maximum altitude is under 25 degrees and leaves out daylight passes, at least partly to keep it to a sane length.

Code Select Expand

Date       Rising at    Peak elevation      Setting    Height Satellite
Y M D  Time      Az.  Time      Az. El  Time      Az. (peak) Name
======  ========= ===  ========= === ==  ========= === ====== =========

081204  16:41:53  279  16:46:46  162 83  16:51:46* 103        ISS DEBTOOLBAG
081204  17:00:25  281  17:05:18  194 73  17:10:19* 108        ISS
081205  17:07:04  283  17:11:49  204 51  17:16:50* 119        ISS DEBTOOLBAG
081205  17:27:19  283  17:32:05  208 39  17:37:05* 126        ISS
081206  17:32:15  282  17:36:46  212 26  17:41:31* 138        ISS DEBTOOLBAG
081207  16:45:49  283  16:50:35  203 36  16:55:28  128        ISS


With a maximum altitude of 26 degrees, it probably won't be an easy sight. ISSs passes today seem to be in daylight.

[MarkS]

Yes 16:20 is rather early and it won't really be dark. 

I don't think they'll be any real chance of seeing a magnitude 7 toolbag!

Mark

Later Edit:  Today's toolbag pass at 17:34 is magnitude 7.8 according to heavens-above

Even Later Edit:  The reason I didn't see it in your monster list is that I was certain today was 8th Dec instead of the 6th.  I must be going mad ...