Comments on: See the Shuttle, station, and Verne tonight!

By: Egaeus

Egaeus — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:14:59 +0000

Unfortunately I didn’t get to this post in my feed reader until about 1/2 hour after it passed. Oh well, there’s always next time. Maybe I’ll find my binoculars from the move by then.

After reading the accounts, especially Wil’s account, I was doubly disappointed. For it to be seen in LA is saying something. I spent a couple of months out there last summer, and that place is horrible for stargazing (but great for everything else except maybe breathing and driving).

By: (HEARTS)

(HEARTS) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:31:09 +0000

Just curious, is the number (2000 m) given for the distance between the ISS and JV an error on the ESA website on the 20th?

(http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ATV/SEMQ29N5NDF_0.html)

[quote]
Now that the vessel is ‘on the green’ - in a parking orbit 2000 m ahead of the ISS - ATV mission controllers must pace the spacecraft through two pending and crucial demonstration dockings, moving successively closer to the ISS, and then finally go for an actual rendezvous and docking attempt on 3 April.
[/quote]

It’d be a bit close .. right?

(HEARTS)

By: The Bad Astronomer

The Bad Astronomer — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:59:02 +0000

Oh– one of the first things TLA always asks is, “Are there people on board?”

By: The Bad Astronomer

The Bad Astronomer — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:58:40 +0000

Check out my hawesome pix!

By: Wolverine

Wolverine — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:48:10 +0000

Caught all three here, and the view was lovely. The ISS appeared slightly brighter than I was expecting, just beautiful.

By: Wil

Wil — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:39:35 +0000

@ Ryan: “How amazing is it that a man made object is the brightest thing in the night sky, second only to the moon? We’ve reordered the hierarchy of the heavens! Now-a-days, people don’t think that much of it, but even as little as a century ago, it would have been called unnatural!”

I know! I was freaking out and telling my wife and son, “I can’t believe that we’re looking at man-made objects — WITH PEOPLE INSIDE THEM — cruising by above our planet.”

I hope I never lose the ability to be blown away by things like this. For all our failings, we’re a pretty cool species.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:34:27 +0000

Watched from USC here, missed the Jules Verne, but saw the ISS and Shuttle. The ISS was clearly the brightest thing in the sky, it was impossible to miss.

How amazing is it that a man made object is the brightest thing in the night sky, second only to the moon? We’ve reordered the hierarchy of the heavens! Now-a-days, people don’t think that much of it, but even as little as a century ago, it would have been called unnatural!