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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

International Space Station pass tonight

13 December 2012 - 5:34 pm

The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes at about 17,500 MPH...and is now starting to enter Chicago night skies for a bit.

Tonight, being a clear night, will be a nice high and very bright pass.

At 5:34 pm, look for a steady pin point of light from the Southwest at 10 degrees high.

It will arc to the South east at a very high 67 degrees and at a -3.3 magnitude - very bright...as the Solar panels of the Space Station catch and reflect sunlight back to the ground. (In comparison, the brightest star in our night sky is Sirus at a magnitude of -1.46)

Then, at 5:38 pm, the station will fade away as it enters the Earth's shadow at 29 degrees high in the EastNorthEast.

There will be another less significant pass of the ISS at 7:11 pm, but at only 10 degrees high. Catch the 5:34 pm pass instead ...you won't be sorry.

The next bright pass will be on the 15th of December at 5:30 pm at a lesser -2.1 magnitude and only 49 degrees high.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

UPDATE:

Chicago Astronomer Steve and I will meet up by the Adler site and catch this pass. I will try and photograph it and hopefully catch some great pics.

I will arrive about 5:15-ish. If in the area, stop by and join us, but no telescopes tonight.

[scottmason]

I'm gonna try to catch it with my zoom lens.

I am a bit torn between a wide-angle long exposure and a zoom shot to try to get the actual craft. Since it's not flying directly over me I've decided to try zoomed. Looking forward to it!

[Paulie pchris00]

This is totally raw, unedited video. I tracked the pass over Conway Observatory with my Dob once I saw ISS come up under Mars. As it got higher, it became harder to track, and I lost it. Not having much luck reacquiring Station in the eyepiece while it was high and bright, I just turned my camera to the sky, watching it drift to the northeast. While I managed to get it in the eyepiece around peak brightness after the three minute mark, I quickly lost it again until it was lower to the horizon, smaller, and more distorted.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Three minutes with the ISS....

Took a jaunt down to the Adler area...which was very windy...very.

I hacked the Canon S3 camera with the CHKDSK Firmware push...allowing more flexibility in exposure time and other settings...thought I would try it out for this event...

Coming in right on schedule, dim and reddish, the ISS was popping in and out, passing thru low horizon muck, but was steady. Arcing nicely, our small group enjoyed the Space Station tease Jupiter on it's way into the Earth's shadow...



High haze was all about, but still made for a great pass of the ISS. I was able to extend the exposure time from the basic 15 seconds to 64 seconds...making for a better ISS trail. (More experimentation on the new camera hack.)

Joining me for this quick viewing were C.A. Maria, and friends from the Adler.

I also took the opportunity to grab some cold weather shots of our magnificent skyline...

I was getting messages on my cell during the ISS pass by fellow astronomers and Chicago Astronomer fans who were watching along from their own little spot of Earth.

Great that many had the chance to view the pass.

Good times...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Feedback on the great ISS pass:

Thanks for the tip -- it's been crazy at work, but I walked out of the office and saw it - wow was it bright.... nice to think about something out there for while...

Thanks again,
- Jim


Thanks, Joe!
Heidi


Thanks Joe.
We watched it go almost overhead.
Tom


Kewl, seemed as bright as Venus. Pix enclosed, note the green glow of Chicago.
Larry


(Thanks Larry for the pic!)


I caught it when it finally got past the clouds near the horizon. Brilliant pass.
J Roykirk

Those are some fantastic photos, Joe. Of both the ISS pass and the city skyline. Holiday pretty!
Mary

Saw it...plus, caught a meteor.
Linda

Ah man, missed it.
Jude

Thanks for this notice. I love catching these sights.
Lyle

Thanks and happy Doomsday!!
Richard

It is killing me being out of town today. I'm in Vegas this week, and of course today it is raining in the desert! I am missing so much great stuff tonight!

I hope all is well Joe. Thanks for sending this out. I actually passed onto my neighbors at home so their kids could see the ISS tonight. Talk to you soon.

Jeremy

[scottmason]

Instead of going for a long exposure/trail shot, I snapped away with the zoom lens. None of the photos I got really show any detail of the craft. I suppose I'll try again next time, with different settings and hopefully less haze to shoot through. Please keep us updated on future passings, Joe!