Monday, December 03, 2007

Want to see the Space Station?

Not in person, no...but it will be visible this week in the Toledo area.

Below is the schedule and direction:

Mon Dec 03 - 6:30 PM
Will be visible in an arc 2 degrees to 27 degrees
Starting at 10 degrees above SSW and ending at 27 degrees above SSE

Tue Dec 04 - 6:52 PM
Will be visible in an arc 1 degree to 61 degrees
Starting at 20 degrees above WSW and ending at 61 degrees above WSW

Wed Dec 05 - 5:38 PM
Will be visible in an arc 5 degrees to 26 degrees
Starting at 10 degrees above SSW and ending at 11 degrees above ENE

Wed Dec 05 - 7:14 PM
Will be visible in an arc <1 degree to 21 degrees
Starting at 18 degrees above W and ending at 21 degrees above WNW

Thu Dec 06 - 6:01 PM
Will be visible in an arc 3 degrees to 88 degrees
Starting at 34 degrees above SW and ending at 18 degrees above NE

Fri Dec 07 - 6:22 PM
Will be visible in an arc 2 degrees to 32 degrees
Starting at 21 degrees above WNW and ending at 23 degrees above NNE

As I'll be doing Eye On Toledo during most of these times, I'd love to know if anyone actually gets to see it!

3 comments:

Brian Maxson said...

Oh Maggie, right up my alley!

To be giddy knowing that contraption is that light speck flailing across the sky like it does.

All I know is layman's terms and when it's longer across the sky, the further up straight up you find yourself looking, starting toward the horizon and being ready, because it's quick comming.

What's really cool is watching the shuttle up there as it docks with the spacestation, if you got a nice enough telescope, and we get a launch on Thursday at 4:30 in the afternoon.

There's something to be said about standing 40 miles south of the launch standing on the beach and feel the sound vibrations 5 minutes after it launches.

Except standing on the causeway to Merritt Island, 5 miles away! :)

Vacation tip? Schedule during a night launch.

Maggie said...

About 7 or 8 years ago, we were on vacation and were supposed to be able to see the shuttle launch...unfortunately, it was completely overcast that day and we missed the whole thing. RATS!

Anyway, while we do get lots of light from Toledo and Detroit, we can still see some neat things with the small telescope we've got.

Unfortunately, as I said in my post, I'm not going to be able to see it this time around ... I'll just have to wait til next time!

Brian Maxson said...

A conventional telescope will not allow you the space in the lens to appreciate the view because of it's design, with the apeture, there's not enough space through the viewfinder to appreciate the view unless you're chasing it across the sky like a pirate!

A friend of mine who lives on the ocean has this huge lensed stubby contraption that affords you more space in the sky to view, and tho it is for about 20 seconds, to see it with your own eyes is electric!

What is incredible with the night launches, even from the distance to my city, it's so bright that you can watch your shadow move behind you with the trajectory of the launch and it's as bright as the pre-dawn sun! TV gives it absolutely no justice.

By the way, is it total darkness up there at 5:50? It was still daylight here, abiet sunset, but still way too bright to look into the sky for the spacestation.

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