Space Shuttle sighting!

Lakesrider · 03-16-2009, 06:36 AM

Anyone else see Discovery fly overhead last night? 8:21 PM. Came from the SW to the SE, very high in the sky. Very bright, very fast! WMUR said it would be sort of low by their diagram. But it was up there. I almost missed it, but my other half saw it first.
Pretty cool as it was only 40 minutes from liftoff and it had already gone around the planet eh?

Steveo · 03-16-2009, 07:34 AM

What you saw was the Space Station. It will be visible tonight as well around 7:40pm. The shuttle will be with it then.

TomC · 03-16-2009, 01:49 PM

should one look to see this?

Steveo · 03-16-2009, 03:15 PM

The information for sightings are at:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...city=Rochester

I used Rochester as closest (listed) point:

For tonight it is:

Mon Mar 16
08:50 PM for 1 minute
at 18 above W 32 above WNW

RI Swamp Yankee · 03-16-2009, 09:20 PM

I saw Discovery last night (Monday 3-15-09) about 7 minutes after liftoff here in RI. About 15 degrees above the horizon, SSE of me. It had a flickering orange glow and was easily visable in the clear sky we had.

Resident 2B · 03-16-2009, 10:01 PM

At 7:41 PM on March 17th, the ISS should be visible high in the sky coming from the SW moving towards the ENE for five minutes time. Best viewing oportunity with shuttle connected this month.

R2B

tpabrad · 03-16-2009, 11:06 PM

We can normally see the launches from here in Tampa. It was a very clear night but I had trees in the way so I missed it. Pretty cool site.

Lucky2Bhere · 03-17-2009, 08:23 AM

We were in Lake Worth Florida unaware of the launch. During dinner we saw a spectacular red plume of smoke and a thick white cloud in the northern sky. Only later did we realize that it was a shuttle launch. The appearance was so distinctive that we'll never forget it. Keep in mind that we're 3+ hours south!

NHKathy · 03-17-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RI Swamp Yankee

I saw Discovery last night (Monday 3-15-09) about 7 minutes after liftoff here in RI. About 15 degrees above the horizon, SSE of me. It had a flickering orange glow and was easily visable in the clear sky we had.

i saw it here in RI too, and yes it was about 7 min after the launch, pretty quickly! now, you said you had a clear view of it, I did for the 1st minute or so, then it seemed to almost blink, but with a delay: we would see it, then it would disappear, then i'd see it again further east... did you see this? i thought it was a clear night too, then I was thinking maybe there were some clouds...

RI Swamp Yankee · 03-17-2009, 08:13 PM

I was watching it between 2 trees accross the street from me. It did flicker a bit and then it moved to my left (East) behind a tree and I lost it. I know someone in CT that tried to watch but he said it was too cloudy so he gave up. Those may have been the clouds that made it flicker in and out. I wondered if it was too low in the sky to be seen from The Lake.

Waterbaby · 03-17-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RI Swamp Yankee

I was watching it between 2 trees accross the street from me. It did flicker a bit and then it moved to my left (East) behind a tree and I lost it. I know someone in CT that tried to watch but he said it was too cloudy so he gave up. Those may have been the clouds that made it flicker in and out. I wondered if it was too low in the sky to be seen from The Lake.

I didn't see it last night (Monday 3/16) (wasn't watching) but did the night before........... according to WMUR at 6 last night it was supposed to almost directly overhead (77 degrees, as they put it) so I would think it would have been visible at the Lake.

RI Swamp Yankee · 03-17-2009, 09:48 PM

Waterbaby, correct, the space station would have been overhead, the post was refering to the shuttle Discovery .... and I put Monday, should have said Sunday .. it was very low on the horizon.

kayakn · 03-18-2009, 05:27 AM

Waterbaby,

We saw it last night and it was almost directly overhead here at the Lake. Unobstructed view until it was far away and they I think there were some clouds 'cause it just disappeared before the horizon and trees. It was really neat to see.

Bizer · 03-18-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayakn

...I think there were some clouds 'cause it just disappeared before the horizon and trees...

It disappeared because it entered the earth's shadow (i.e. night). Without sun reflection, you can't see it.

Misakame · 03-18-2009, 12:34 PM

You can go to the website - http://spaceweather.com/flybys - and enter your zip code and they will tell you all the information you will need to spot a fly over. You can also subscribe to their newletter and they will update you on space happenings. Hope you find this helpful. MIKE

kayakn · 03-18-2009, 05:38 PM

Thanks Bizer,

That makes perfect sense. Had not really thought it through.

beagle · 03-18-2009, 07:16 PM

Thanks, we all just saw it fly over Redding. Way cool!

Coolbreeze · 03-19-2009, 06:37 AM

We saw it here in Pa on Tuesday night, it was pretty neat. I flicked on and off my porch lights and the shuttle put its spot light on my house for a moment. Can't wait for summer!

Grant · 03-19-2009, 02:53 PM

I also saw it down here in PA on Tuesday -- nice clear night, and it was high in the sky. Lucky -- because the sighting opportunities every other night are relatively low in the sky, which makes for difficult viewing in our area (hills, tree, houses). But Tuesday was a treat. That thing moves fast! And, as I learned later, it was a double sighting, as the Shuttle was already docked.

That sighting site is a great resource. I plan to check that before coming to the Lake, because the unobstructed full-sky view (and relative lack of light pollution) will make for some great viewing.

Misty Blue · 03-19-2009, 08:11 PM

Deb and I headed out on the ice in Braun Bay at 1930.

We saw the Shuttle going like a bat in Heck from west to east. At the same time we saw (so they say) the ISS heading from north to south at a much slower (from our point) speed. Way cooolll!

PS. Deb was scared of walking out on to the 12 inch thick ice! I made a snow angel!

Misty Blue

Mee-n-Mac · 03-19-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misakame

You can go to the website - http://spaceweather.com/flybys - and enter your zip code and they will tell you all the information you will need to spot a fly over. You can also subscribe to their newletter and they will update you on space happenings. Hope you find this helpful. MIKE

Another good place for all manner of satellites is Heavens-Above. Find your town or enter your lat/long and it'll give you a list of what, where (in the sky) and when. Save the page after you enter your position so as not to have to redo it.

03-16-2009, 06:36 AM	#1
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Space Shuttle sighting! Anyone else see Discovery fly overhead last night? 8:21 PM. Came from the SW to the SE, very high in the sky. Very bright, very fast! WMUR said it would be sort of low by their diagram. But it was up there. I almost missed it, but my other half saw it first. Pretty cool as it was only 40 minutes from liftoff and it had already gone around the planet eh?

03-16-2009, 01:49 PM	#3
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 663 Thanks: 21 Thanked 84 Times in 56 Posts	what part of the sky should one look to see this?

03-16-2009, 09:20 PM	#5
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	I saw Discovery last night (Monday 3-15-09) about 7 minutes after liftoff here in RI. About 15 degrees above the horizon, SSE of me. It had a flickering orange glow and was easily visable in the clear sky we had. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

03-16-2009, 10:01 PM	#6
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,357 Thanks: 994 Thanked 313 Times in 163 Posts	High in the Sky on March 17th At 7:41 PM on March 17th, the ISS should be visible high in the sky coming from the SW moving towards the ENE for five minutes time. Best viewing oportunity with shuttle connected this month. R2B

03-17-2009, 08:13 PM	#10
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	I was watching it between 2 trees accross the street from me. It did flicker a bit and then it moved to my left (East) behind a tree and I lost it. I know someone in CT that tried to watch but he said it was too cloudy so he gave up. Those may have been the clouds that made it flicker in and out. I wondered if it was too low in the sky to be seen from The Lake. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

03-16-2009, 07:34 AM	#2
Steveo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 523 Thanks: 47 Thanked 123 Times in 63 Posts	What you saw was the Space Station. It will be visible tonight as well around 7:40pm. The shuttle will be with it then.

03-16-2009, 03:15 PM	#4
Steveo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 523 Thanks: 47 Thanked 123 Times in 63 Posts	The information for sightings are at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...city=Rochester I used Rochester as closest (listed) point: For tonight it is: Mon Mar 16 08:50 PM for 1 minute at 18 above W 32 above WNW

03-16-2009, 11:06 PM	#7
tpabrad Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 58 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	We can normally see the launches from here in Tampa. It was a very clear night but I had trees in the way so I missed it. Pretty cool site.

03-17-2009, 08:23 AM	#8
Lucky2Bhere Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Moultonboro & SE Florida Posts: 94 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	We were in Lake Worth Florida unaware of the launch. During dinner we saw a spectacular red plume of smoke and a thick white cloud in the northern sky. Only later did we realize that it was a shuttle launch. The appearance was so distinctive that we'll never forget it. Keep in mind that we're 3+ hours south!

03-17-2009, 09:48 PM	#12
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	Waterbaby, correct, the space station would have been overhead, the post was refering to the shuttle Discovery .... and I put Monday, should have said Sunday .. it was very low on the horizon. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

03-18-2009, 05:27 AM	#13
kayakn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Laconia Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Waterbaby, We saw it last night and it was almost directly overhead here at the Lake. Unobstructed view until it was far away and they I think there were some clouds 'cause it just disappeared before the horizon and trees. It was really neat to see.

03-18-2009, 12:34 PM	#15
Misakame Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tuftonboro, NH Posts: 12 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Spaceweather You can go to the website - http://spaceweather.com/flybys - and enter your zip code and they will tell you all the information you will need to spot a fly over. You can also subscribe to their newletter and they will update you on space happenings. Hope you find this helpful. MIKE

03-18-2009, 05:38 PM	#16
kayakn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Laconia Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Bizer, That makes perfect sense. Had not really thought it through.

03-18-2009, 07:16 PM	#17
beagle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 175 Thanks: 184 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Just saw it! Thanks, we all just saw it fly over Redding. Way cool!

03-19-2009, 06:37 AM	#18
Coolbreeze Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 332 Thanks: 0 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	We saw it here in Pa on Tuesday night, it was pretty neat. I flicked on and off my porch lights and the shuttle put its spot light on my house for a moment. Can't wait for summer!

03-19-2009, 02:53 PM	#19
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	I also saw it down here in PA on Tuesday -- nice clear night, and it was high in the sky. Lucky -- because the sighting opportunities every other night are relatively low in the sky, which makes for difficult viewing in our area (hills, tree, houses). But Tuesday was a treat. That thing moves fast! And, as I learned later, it was a double sighting, as the Shuttle was already docked. That sighting site is a great resource. I plan to check that before coming to the Lake, because the unobstructed full-sky view (and relative lack of light pollution) will make for some great viewing. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

03-19-2009, 08:11 PM	#20
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	No light pollution! Deb and I headed out on the ice in Braun Bay at 1930. We saw the Shuttle going like a bat in Heck from west to east. At the same time we saw (so they say) the ISS heading from north to south at a much slower (from our point) speed. Way cooolll! PS. Deb was scared of walking out on to the 12 inch thick ice! I made a snow angel! Misty Blue