Maybe a bit off topic

[The Borg]

Hi guys,

I know that this may be a bit off topic, but I know you guys and think I will get an answer from you. I know a few like Petrus may have the answer.

I good friend of mine has just phoned me asking about a rather bright star in the sky. Wondering if it was the space station. I told him that I did not think it was as the space station is in low orbit and thus travels fast. This star is stationary.

It is about 15 deg above the western horizon, just above and to the right of the new setting moon.

 

[Fardringle]

Where is your friend located? Jupiter is currently visible in the low western sky in North America. Antares (a bright star in the constellation Scorpius) and Venusare both visible in the lower western sky in southern Africa and Australia.

 

[The Borg]

Fardringle,

Sorry, I pressed the enter key before I was able to add my location. Yes, I am in South Africa, so it would probably be Antares or Venusare. This one is very bright (and big) and low down.

 

[Fardringle]

I missed a space in my reply (it should have read "Antares or Venus ARE visible", not Venusare). It's probably Venus.

 

[The Borg]

Just shows you how much I know that I did not see that!!! Yes, I think it is Venus. I said to him it could be Venus or Mercury. Mars has a definite red / brown colour to it.

If it is that low in the sky, it means it must be almost in line with us and the sun. Hence so bright.

Many thanks.

 

[EULA]

A little off topic, but if you or your friend are interested in sighting the space station, check out SkyWatch 2.0

Click on Start Applet, and punch in a zip code or continent, and it will approximate when you should be able to sight the space station (or various other satellites).

 

[petrusbroder]

Nice site!

 

[The Borg]

Many thanks guys.

 

[caferace]

Stellarium is very cool as well. It's free, Open Source and runs on most platforms....

http://www.stellarium.org/

-jim

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: The Borg
Hi guys,

I know that this may be a bit off topic, but I know you guys and think I will get an answer from you. I know a few like Petrus may have the answer.

I good friend of mine has just phoned me asking about a rather bright star in the sky. Wondering if it was the space station. I told him that I did not think it was as the space station is in low orbit and thus travels fast. This star is stationary.

It is about 15 deg above the western horizon, just above and to the right of the new setting moon.

If it was the station you would only see it for about 2 minutes.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That brings to mind this question. If the planets in our solar system orbit our sun, then what happens when the sun burns through so much matter in it's core (transforming it into radiant energy), that it's mass becomes lower. Won't that slowly screw up the delicate orbits of the planets? If so, how much planetary orbital drift is there? Is it something to be concerned about?

 

[Assimilator1]

Heheh, you wouldn't have to worry about that for about 4+ billion years , & actually they believe our sun will grow to a red giant about then & cook the Earth to a cinder & possibly even drag it in to a firey death before any problems with planetary drift (which I've never heard been mentioned AFAIK).

Re Skywatch, cool program, now if I only knew what the 'approach' & 'departure' numbers meant maybe I could spot the ISS .

 

[Spacehead]

Originally posted by: The Borg
It is about 15 deg above the western horizon, just above and to the right of the new setting moon.

That was definitely Venus. Next to the crescent Moon:moon: like that was quite a site. Also, about twice as high above the horizon & a little farther South was Jupiter(not quite as bright as Venus).
A nice evening triplet



2 sites i use often:
for satellite passes-
http://www.heavens-above.com/

online planetarium-
http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/




Assimilator1, ISS passes for the next 10 days, assuming i got your correct town.
http://www.heavens-above.com/P...uildford&alt=64&tz=GMT

There's some nice early morning passes in your area. For instance November 2. If you went out in time to see it you'd want to be facing West @ 5:29am looking 34 degrees above the horizon to first spot the ISS. As it continues to maximum altitude you'll be facing North & looking almost straight up @ 82 degrees(straight up is 90 degrees). Then as it starts to fade you'll end up facing East to see it.