Space Station Tonight (Saco, Freeport: gas, trees, distance)

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

while looking at the stars, there is one very bright one in the southern sky, any astronomers know what that is?? a star? planet?

It is Jupiter.

[Valerie C]

Just saw them pass by in Londonderry, NH. I wasn't sure which one was first (thanks starwalker for letting us know that the 1st was the ISS) The 2nd one was much brighter than the first, and PERFECT viewing conditions.

Very cool to watch with my 8th grader and DH

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by starwalker

It is Jupiter.

Starwalker is correct about Jupiter.(why do think she is starwalker??) If you have a good pair of binoculars or a small telescope or spotting scope you should be able to make out 3-4 moons of Jupiter. They look like tiny pins of light around the planet. Once you see them you will always look for them. I saw three the other night with 8X binoculars before the moon rose.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by starwalker

It is Jupiter.

thanks star,!!!

we use to have the cosmic muffin on a radio station (wblm) out of portland that would give us planet updates, but i think he died

its a wise man who rules the stars, its a fool who's ruled by them (his closing statement)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

Just saw them pass by in Londonderry, NH. I wasn't sure which one was first (thanks starwalker for letting us know that the 1st was the ISS) The 2nd one was much brighter than the first, and PERFECT viewing conditions.

Very cool to watch with my 8th grader and DH

The first one was the shuttle! It was one minute AHEAD of the ISS and less bright because it is much smaller than the ISS.

[susang49]

Saw both fly over Bristol, Maine at 8:06 and about 8:10, it was awesome to see!!!

[msina]

I went out and watched it too.

[Maineah]

Last spring they were testing a new toilet on the ISS while the shuttle was up there. There was a problem with it and they dumped quite a bit of water (and other fluids) overboard until they got it working properly. There was a distinct "halo" around the ISS for a good many passes easily visible with binoculars until the frozen cloud dissapated. Iced Pee as it was termed.

[Valerie C]

Thank you for the correction, Maineah Makes sense (bigger/brighter was the ISS) Now I know where to come when I need a little known factoid like "Iced Pee"

Originally Posted by Maineah

Last spring they were testing a new toilet on the ISS while the shuttle was up there. There was a problem with it and they dumped quite a bit of water (and other fluids) overboard until they got it working properly. There was a distinct "halo" around the ISS for a good many passes easily visible with binoculars until the frozen cloud dissapated. Iced Pee as it was termed.

[moughie]

The Space Station flew right over us out here in AZ about 4 months ago. Amazing sight! So bright, fast moving and large. We made sure to haul our girls out with us to marvel.