Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jul 26, 2009 22:02:38 GMT -6
The Next Good Chicago Viewing for the ISS/Space Shutte Flyover
28 July 2009 - 7:38 pm
28 July 2009 - 7:38 pm
With the Space Shuttle attached to the ISS now, it's making a great bright target for observers - even in daylight! I don't include flyovers less than 40 degress in elevation, due to the muck hugging the horizon.
For Chicago, the next best flyover will be this Tuesday evening - July 28th 2009.
Starting at 7:38:19 pm from the WNW...
To a maximum of 72 degrees in the high SW at 7:41:15...
And ending low in the SE at 7:44:10.
The skies will still be bright, as the time of Sunset that evening will be at 8:13 pm, but if it's as bright as I observed it on the 11th of July, ( astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=iss&action=display&thread=2518 ), then it should be at a magnitude bright enough to catch naked eye.
This flyover will be pretty high in the sky. A fist outstretched is about 10 degrees. Seven fists up from the horizon is about 70 degrees...pretty good! Look for an unblinking very bright star moving steadily across the sky.
I will organize a Chicago Astronomer observation party for this flyover at a newly discovered observation deck...on top of a northside Grocery store roof with great views...
More later...