Tuesday 17 May 2011

ISS & Endeavour visible from Bloemfontein

Watch out for the International Space Station and the space shuttle Endeavour passing over this evening (Tuesday).  Not sure how far apart they'll be - could be a minute or two - but they should both look like bright stars moving upwards from the north-western horizon at 6:57pm.  Both will "disappear" about halfway up the sky as they pass into the shadow of the Earth.

Endeavour launched Monday, and will dock with the ISS just after midday Wednesday.  The "crew hatch opening" at around 2:30pm (and other mission events) can be watched live at www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv
This is the last flight of Endeavour.

For sightings of the Space Station from Southern Africa later this week, go to www.planetarium.co.za  click on "In the Sky" and then "Satellites", and follow the instructions





Source:  
Claire Flanagan
Wits Planetarium
011-717-1390
086-521-4273 (fax)
www.planetarium.co.za

Info for Bloemfontein from Heavens Above
 

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Observer's location: Bloemfontein, 29.1330°S, 26.2000°E
Local time zone: Universal Coordinated Time -2 (UTC + 2:00)
Orbit: 343 x 346 km, 51.6° (Epoch May 16)

Date Mag Starts Max. altitude Ends
Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
17 May -1.8 18:58:03 10 NNW 18:59:32 23 N 18:59:32 23 N
18 May -1.2 19:21:31 10 WNW 19:22:57 24 WNW 19:22:57 24 WNW
19 May -2.8 18:10:11 10 NNW 18:12:52 34 NE 18:14:47 16 ESE
20 May -2.6 18:33:35 10 WNW 18:36:22 42 SW 18:37:56 21 SSE
21 May -0.7 18:58:46 10 WSW 19:00:06 12 SW 19:00:56 11 SSW
22 May -2.6 17:45:30 10 WNW 17:48:17 42 SW 17:51:06 10 SSE
23 May -0.7 18:10:36 10 WSW 18:11:56 12 SW 18:13:15 10 S