A bit late notice, but the weather is looking good to observe the partial flyover of the ISS this evening starting at 11pm, on the horizon from the direction of Uppingham.

The ISS will move in an easterly direction towards Easton on the Hill, but will fade away after about 5 minutes, shortly after reaching its maximum height in the sky, when it will be eclipsed by the Earth’s shadow.

Pass beginning

Date/time: 8/6 23:00:20
Azimuth: 245.09° (WSW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.14°
Magnitude: 1.4
Distance to satellite: 2349.3 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Maximum altitude

Date/time: 8/6 23:05:40
Azimuth: 165.60° (S)
Elevation (altitude): 53.28°
Magnitude: -1.9
Distance to satellite: 520.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Pass ending

Date/time: 8/6 23:11:0
Azimuth: 81.56° (E)
Elevation (altitude): 0.44°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2311.7 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES

Good visible pass

Data courtesy of Real Time Satellite Tracking

Unfortunately the sky was too cloudy to view the International Space Station (ISS) Tuesday night, but the weather forecast is looking much more promising for clear skies tonight, when there will be another good opportunity to view the ISS.

Tonight, the ISS will reach a little higher than Tuesday, about 2/3 up from the horizon and will rise at 11:30pm in the direction of Morcott and set at 11:41pm in the direction of Collyweston.

If you are curious to know what it is like living on the inside of the ISS then this video by Sunita Williams of NASA provides a very extensive tour:

Pass beginning

• Date/time: 6/6 23:30:40
• Azimuth: 251.36° (WSW)
• Elevation (altitude): 0.22°
• Magnitude: 1.3
• Distance to satellite: 2313.2 km
• In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Maximum altitude

• Date/time: 6/6 23:36:0
• Azimuth: 162.87° (SSE)
• Elevation (altitude): 61.96°
• Magnitude: -2.2
• Distance to satellite: 465.9 km
• In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Pass ending

• Date/time: 6/6 23:41:15
• Azimuth: 83.66° (E)
• Elevation (altitude): 0.37°
• Magnitude: 1.3
• Distance to satellite: 2297.5 km
• In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Data courtesy of Real Time Satellite Tracking

There will be a good opportunity to view the International Space Station (ISS) this evening from North Luffenham, weather permitting, between 11:32pm and 11:42pm.

The ISS is the largest man-made space object ever built, it cost $150 billion and and took just over 12 years to assemble in space.

The ISS is very easy to view if the weather is clear and you look out at precisely the right time, there is no need for binoculars or a telescope. Unless you have some sophisticated telescope equipment the best way to view it is with the naked eye. Just look towards South Luffenham/Barrowden and half-way up into the sky and you should see it.

Typically the ISS will appear as the brightest object in the sky (unless the moon is up) moving from East to the West, faster than a typical passenger aircraft would flyover, and without any sound.  The brightness of the ISS may change as it rises and falls due to the changing angle of the sun reflecting off of the huge solar panel arrays and whether it passes through the Earth’s shadow or not.

Don’t worry if you miss it, the ISS passes over frequently and it is expected to stay in orbit to at least 2020, so plenty of time to catch a glimpse of it yet.

Pass beginning

Date/time: 6/4 23:32:10
Azimuth: 236.71° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.15°
Magnitude: 1.3
Distance to satellite: 2317.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Maximum altitude

Date/time: 6/4 23:37:25
Azimuth: 156.79° (SSE)
Elevation (altitude): 41.40°
Magnitude: -1.6
Distance to satellite: 604.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Pass ending

Date/time: 6/4 23:42:35
Azimuth: 80.05° (E)
Elevation (altitude): 0.43°
Magnitude: 1.3
Distance to satellite: 2292.5 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO

Good visible pass

Data courtesy of Real Time Satellite Tracking