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Heads Up: Shuttle Discovery and the ISS.

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Heads Up: Shuttle Discovery and the ISS.

Old 28th Feb 2011, 15:54
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Thanks O&H - do I read there that they are shifting orbit out a bit?
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Old 1st Mar 2011, 17:44
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Amazing sight tonight.
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Old 1st Mar 2011, 19:18
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Saw it earlier tonight. Pretty cool, seemed like it flew directly overhead even though i knew it was over francei at the time. I've got a fairly good camera with a 70-300mm zoom lens but the photos were fairly unsteady. Off to jessops (other camera stores also available) to buy a tripod to try and get something decent tomorrow night.
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Old 1st Mar 2011, 19:24
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Just seen it over Cheshire....very bright disappeared nearly overhead south of west after rising due west....looked like somebody turned the lights off....but I presume it went into the earth's shadow???....no shape discernible though my x12 binos.


Nick.
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Old 2nd Mar 2011, 17:22
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If I've read it right, it should be almost right overhead the southern UK at 18:48 this evening.

Nice and clear here for once, mut make sure I don't nod off!
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Old 2nd Mar 2011, 18:12
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God it moves!
[IMG] The Space Shuttle... by Air Frame Photography, on Flickr[/IMG]
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Old 3rd Mar 2011, 07:32
  #27 (permalink)  
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Good view last night, could see it through the trees at the western end of my garden as soon as I stepped outside the back door.

It seemed to be moving more slowly than I recall from when last I saw it in 2007, presmably a sympton of advanced brain-fade rather than a higher orbit making any significant difference to the time taken to circumnavigate the earth.

Cheers

An orbital mechanically challenged Treadders
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Old 3rd Mar 2011, 17:03
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Quote from treadigraph:
It seemed to be moving more slowly than I recall from when last I saw it in 2007, presmably a sympton of advanced brain-fade rather than a higher orbit making any significant difference to the time taken to circumnavigate the earth.

Err... Given that the orbital speed reduction is presumably negligible, surely the greater altitude would itself make it appear slower? (Think of high-flying aircraft.) It will become visible above your horizon at a greater distance; be visible longer, and therefore seem to be slower. Your recall is correct, methinks.
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Old 3rd Mar 2011, 19:02
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Do I take it that the answer to post #21 is yes, then? I cannot see that there would be any discernible change in orbital angular rate from any orbit change there would be fuel for, so we vote Treadi is a KOS.
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 10:49
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Camera views from both SRBs for the launch are now available to view:

NASA - Booster Cam Views of Discovery's Final Flight
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 12:45
  #31 (permalink)  
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we vote Treadi is a KOS
I plead guilty m'lud...
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 14:47
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Quote from BOAC:
I cannot see that there would be any discernible change in orbital angular rate from any orbit change there would be fuel for...

And how do we, stuck on the surface of the earth, "discern" the angular rate of a satellite's orbit? What are you getting at, BOAC? Wafffling a bit?
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 15:20
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And how do we, stuck on the surface of the earth, "discern" the angular rate of a satellite's orbit? What are you getting at, BOAC? Wafffling a bit?
- I'm sure, as you no doubt are, that you are right, but to answer your question, most of us would notice that it appeared to take a bit longer to fly over our sky - err - well, a bit like wot Treadi said. Simples?
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 16:00
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Even I knew that!!! Should be interesting tonight - not brilliant but seeable. NW - SW 19:40 / should be quite low I imagine in the western sky. IF I got all that right!
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 18:52
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Missed it!!! But the wine was good
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 19:25
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I was watching it pass over southern Ireland earlier and I saw an equally bright object appear to detach and move away quiet rapidly at a right angle. Did any one else see this?
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 20:26
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Welcome, Dc.muckross5,

No, sorry, but the sighting was not particularly good here in SE England.

Chris
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Old 4th Mar 2011, 21:11
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I was watching it pass over southern Ireland earlier and I saw an equally bright object appear to detach and move away quiet rapidly at a right angle. Did any one else see this?
You most probably saw the shuttle undocking, which if true is a pretty cool thing to witness. I saw something like this many years ago whilst sleeping under the stars in the mountains and the total darkness made the viewing conditions perfect. I witnessed some rocket stage separating with a brief flash and falling away at an angle. Very impressive live.

Here's someone who managed to photograph the ISS and shuttle in the last few days from his back garden!

Amateur photographer captures space shuttle from back garden - Telegraph



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Old 4th Mar 2011, 22:01
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NASA website saying STS-133 & ISS undocking due on Monday with landing on Wednesday.

Have a look at Telegraph TV video of Discovery's launch as seen from a camera on the Solid Booster rocket.

Saw the ISS/STS combo this evening. Hope the skies stay clear the next few nights

Last edited by Thunderbug; 6th Mar 2011 at 13:33.
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Old 7th Mar 2011, 18:29
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Good view tonight of the undocked ISS and Discovery.
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