Call me crazy - I've been trying to see a satellite for about a week

[Inchworm]

I was a bit stoned a few weeks back out on the porch and saw a "star" move across the sky.

I guessed it was a satellite and want to see another.

I downloaded Stellaris and activated the satellite plug-in.

I got all excited tonight because the ISS was overhead at dusk.

NOTHING! (think it was still too bright to see)

Any tips on doing this? It's driving me nutz!

:hi:

[Swede]

1. Moar weed?

[Inchworm]

3. It may be the lacking component

to satellite sighting :D

:hi:

[hippywife]

2. Try this Inchie:

http://heavens-above.com


You not crazy (well, about this anyway.) :rofl: :hi:

[Inchworm]

4. Cool! It helps with visual

I'll, by gosh, find one for sure now!

:rofl:

:*

[denbot]

5. What you saw was a "Iridium Flare"

You can find schedules online.

[Inchworm]

6. They have schedules on Hippywife's link

I'll read up on them.

Thanks!

:woohoo:

[Inchworm]

7. Update

hehe

I'm guessing I can't see satellites with binoculars.

Genesis-1 passed straight through Pleiads and I focused on that area for 3-4 minutes... nothing.

:cry:

[denbot]

8. You have to be very accurate with the timing

And make note of the "location" of the schedule. A degree of latitude difference from where the "map" is, and your actual location could put a flare out of the binocular's field of vision.

[Inchworm]

9. From what I'm reading it probably wasn't an I-flare

"The duration of a flare is approximately from 3 to 8 seconds, therefore an application that predicts the exact date is required to have a maximum chance to correctly observe the phenomenon."

The "star" that got me curious went through the entire sky and lasted about 2 minutes.

I'll find one!

:P

[denbot]

10. Satilites will do that.

Flares will are visible tracking across the sky, what makes them different is that they suddenly brighten for a moment or two.

Here is a little more info. Happy "seeing".

http://www.satobs.org/iridium.html

[Kali]

11. sure it wasn't a plane?

besides chemistry, the best way to do amateur astronomy is with a hot tub - beats the HELL out of lawn chairs, sleeping bags, and hot chocolate!

[Inchworm]

14. Naw, I'm sure

unless it was some experimental space tourism plane :D

My porch is set up pretty nice for beer drinking and looking out into space.

:hi:

[zen_bohemian]

12. I've seen stars move slowly across the sky, always thought they were satellites

no flashing lights, just a solid slow-moving light waaaay up above overhead, I was always told they were satellites, I will check out this stellaris thing sounds cool

[Inchworm]

13. It is very cool, here are some links

main site and download
http://www.stellarium.org/

This will help get latitude and longitude for your house
http://location.crispcode.co.nz/

F6 is the Location Window in Stellaris program to add your coordinates

Once you install it make sure to enable Satellite plug-in
http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Plugins

It is fun to play with :)

:hi: