Comments on: That's no moon, it's a space station

That's no moon, it's a space station

brownpau — Thu, 13 May 2004 07:15:34 -0800

ISS-Jupiter Transit tonight. Notable space station flyover tonight for you skywatching East Coasters: the ISS will pass quite close to Jupiter, and some of you lucky ones [coordinates|map] will even see the station briefly eclipse the planet. (Side note: Remember those days when everyone was using its radio call sign "Alpha?" Now the media just say "space station." Sigh.) East Coast, 9:30pm, I'll be outside, looking up.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Thu, 13 May 2004 07:30:10 -0800

A related question (maybe better for AxMe?): The wife and I were in New Orleans this weekend. A guy had set up a big telescope, probably 4 feet long and 8-10 inches in diameter, right on Jackson Square. For $1, you could have a look. I did, and saw Saturn with VERY clear rings, then Jupiter with cloud bands and three moons. It was all so clear that it looked fake. Was it?

By: ShawnString

ShawnString — Thu, 13 May 2004 08:03:42 -0800

yes.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Thu, 13 May 2004 08:34:37 -0800

MrMoonPie - It was real, but you either paid extra or left a generous tip. While decent-quality telescopes can spot objects in the solar system, a number of amateur stargazers' societies will gladly permit passersby to view the heavens for free. In fact, some groups will encourage people to join in on a session via handbills posted on bulletin boards at the local library. Without knowing that, one dollar isn't a major offense; the view you took in was priceless enough. But should you find anyone asking five bucks or twenty, keep walking.

By: coelecanth

coelecanth — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:12:36 -0800

Thanks for posting this. I tried several times to catch the ISS going past, but was always thwarted by weather.

By: holycola

holycola — Thu, 13 May 2004 10:04:43 -0800

The guy was charging money to give people a look? How crass. I would never think of asking for money to let passers-by take a look, and nor would any of the many amateur astronomers I know.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Thu, 13 May 2004 12:07:55 -0800

Yeah, but, you know, they charge for sex in New Orleans, too.

By: jkilg

jkilg — Thu, 13 May 2004 18:47:35 -0800

I just saw the ISS go by, almost exactly overhead from here near Philadelphia. It missed Jupiter by about a lunar diameter. If you're interested in other satellite sightings, NASA provides a frequently-updated list of sightings by city for a lot of US locations and a number of international sites.

By: brownpau

brownpau — Thu, 13 May 2004 18:58:17 -0800

9:58 pm EST, just came back from the National Mall, watched the station fly overhead. Unfortunately the clouds were obscuring Jupiter so I didn't get to see any conjunction, but wow that thing orbits fast.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Fri, 14 May 2004 08:26:13 -0800

I saw it, I saw it! I remember sitting outside to watch when the ISS (?) was docked with the Mir. Thanks, brownpau--way cool.