Another
shot to see the ISS
By
Will Collette
The
International Space Station (ISS), one of the few remaining examples of
international cooperation and joint scientific exploration is a frequent
visitor to Charlestown’s night-time sky.
Its
passage overhead is smooth, quiet and, in its way, majestic. Comforting in a
way to see that by working together, we can do good things.
Anyway,
you can dwell on your own impressions. From time to time, the ISS overflights
come in clusters, allowing you several chances to see it on consecutive days.
Tonight at 8:52 PM, the ISS will appear for its second 6-minute pass in a row at 10 degrees about the southwest horizon. It will arc up to 68 degrees above us as it heads east northeast where it will disappear at 11 degrees above the horizon.
Tonight at 8:52 PM, the ISS will appear for its second 6-minute pass in a row at 10 degrees about the southwest horizon. It will arc up to 68 degrees above us as it heads east northeast where it will disappear at 11 degrees above the horizon.
Celestial mechanics makes the ISS strictly follow these
specifications.
Six minutes is the maximum time for an overflight. The station relies on reflected light from sunset (or sunrise) to make it visible to us on the ground and six minutes is roughly how long it takes for the ISS to go from one end of the sky to the other.
Here's the message I received from NASA this morning, courtesy of
their "Spot The Station" e-mail listserve:
Time:
Sun May 17 8:52 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 68°, Appears: 10° above SW,
Disappears: 11° above ENE
