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I watched the space station fly over my house this morning. You may be able as well.

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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 08:52 AM
Original message
I watched the space station fly over my house this morning. You may be able as well.
A very beautiful sight. Very clear sky this morning right at sunrise. It came out of the Southwestern sky heading in a northeasterly direction over South Mississippi. Visible for five minutes and going incredibly fast. You can check its schedule in your area.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Click on the United States on the left side and it will take you to your state. Its worth a view.
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Saturday Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 08:56 AM
Response to Original message
1. Cool. I'll check it out. n/t
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mtnester Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 08:57 AM
Response to Original message
2. We watch it all the time once the planet tips
we also spend a great deal of time in the summer, after 10:00 at night, on the lawn chairs (reclining) watching and counting satellites. We do this for hours when the weather is nice and we need to unwind

We are simply amused. You get the bonus of star watching, and meteors and other things. The sound of the night...etc :)

Also, there are times when we get up at around 020 (false dawn time) and watch the skies...that is absolutely the BEST meteor watching time, especially 0300 - 0400 is (depending on the month)

Occasionally, if the skeeters are not bad, we fall asleep there (Fri-Sat nights)
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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 08:59 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. It was quite incredible this morning
No sound whatsoever. It was as if I were the only person on the planet. No neighbors stirring, not a peep out of the rooster down the road.

I go out back and pee every night before bed and I never get bored at the view above.
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bigscott Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 09:05 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. OMG
:spray:

I thought I was the only one who did that! Maybe I can catch it tonite thru the snowflakes!! I cant wait for the nights I can sit out on the deck and star-gaze again!

peace
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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 09:13 AM
Response to Reply #5
8. We have lots of kids
in the neighborhood, so my constitutional is only after the sun has gone way down. I think my wife would think something is wrong with me if she didn't hear me going out the garage door about bedtime. Star gazing never gets old. We are also on the flight path between New Orleans and Atlanta so we see lots of jets flying back and forth.
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mtnester Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 11:31 AM
Response to Reply #3
14. My hubby does the "pee for free" thing daily as a protest
to paying to flush the toilet.

I agree with him. :)
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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #14
15. He flushes??
I find it rather a natural thing to do. And it gives me the opportunity to have a look around the property before turning in for the night. I'm kind of a one man neighborhood watch.. The neighbors depend on me to let them know whats doing on since I'm here most of the time. Any strange cars, anything out of sorts, anybody's outside property moved. I'm just an encyclopedia of our neighborhood.
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mtnester Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #15
16. Yeah, we live in town...the only time he can do this is under some cover of darkness
Edited on Thu Feb-28-08 11:49 AM by mtnester
there is a big field that separates the back of our house from the main drag...he just won't take a chance as we have quite a bit of elderly that are home all the time our neighborhood...and you can easily see our house from the road.

Now, when we build and move out to the country in a year or so...well, flushing may get less attention!
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 02:41 PM
Response to Reply #2
19. The planet doesn't tip, the Universe does
Don't you read your Bible?
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malaise Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 09:04 AM
Response to Original message
4. I'll watch tomorrow morning
I'll have two minutes.
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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 09:10 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. To the naked eye
it looks a tad larger then a star, its very bright and moving very fast. I hope you have clear skys.
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madokie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 09:09 AM
Response to Original message
6. Thanks Boss
I used to keep up with it when it was in its earlier stages and I bet it is something to see now as its grown so much back through the years.
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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 09:22 AM
Response to Reply #6
9. My pleasure My Friend
We live near a NASA Center and they have a big presence in the area.
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malaise Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 10:24 AM
Response to Original message
10. Check this out
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ProfessorGAC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 10:27 AM
Response to Original message
11. Cool! Thanks, Boss
It's supposed to be clear again tonight here. I'll check it out.
GAC
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MethuenProgressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 10:49 AM
Response to Original message
12. My favorite site for this:
Edited on Thu Feb-28-08 10:49 AM by MethuenProgressive
http://www.heavens-above.com

Configuration

Current observing site: Salem, 42.7260°N, 71.1910°W

Switch observing sites

Change your personal configuration

Subscribe to our AvantGo channel

Satellites

10 day predictions for: ISS | Genesis-1 / 2 | Envisat | HST

Daily predictions for all satellites brighter than magnitude:

(brightest) 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 (dimmest)

Iridium Flares

next 24 hrs | next 7 days | previous 48 hrs

Daytime flares for 7 days - see satellites in broad daylight!

Spacecraft escaping the Solar System - where are they now?

Radio amateur satellites - 24 hour predictions (all passes)

Select a satellite from the database

Enter/edit observations

Select observations

Height of the ISS - how does it vary with time

Astronomy

Comets currently brighter than mag. 12

17P Holmes | 8P Tuttle | 46P Wirtanen | C/2006 Q1 McNaught

Minor planets currently brighter than mag. 10

4 Vesta | 1 Ceres | 15 Eunomia | 6 Hebe | 2 Pallas

Whole sky chart

Sun and Moon data for today

Planet summary data

Planet details (under construction)

Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Pluto

Solar system chart

Constellations

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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 10:52 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. Thanks very much for the site
Skygazing never gets old for me.
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chaplainM Donating Member (744 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #12
17. I recommend looking for the Iridium satellite flyovers
Very striking appearance, like a SLOW meteor!

Quoting:

"The flares occur when sunlight reflects off the Main Antenna.

"When these satellites pass overhead they can give a bright flash, or flare, when seen at just the right position with respect to the satellite and the sun."

Since there are about four dozen of these satellites in orbit, you won't have to wait long before one visits your neighborhood.

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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #12
20. Heavens Above is great, I've been using it for years
And it's fairly accurate, too, once you know your exact GPS coordinates.

You also need to have a compass or know your way around the night sky to see the fainter satellites.

But the Shuttle/Space Station combo (when they're docked together)are spectacular!
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NeedleCast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
18. Awesome
The IMAX at the National Air and Space Museaum in DC is currently running a 3D movie on the construction of the International Space Station. Fascinating stuff.
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BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-28-08 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #18
21. There is a NASA Museum/Visitors Center nearby
Its all neat stuff. They have scales which let you know how much you would weigh on certain planets. Always an incredibly fascinating visit.
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madokie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-29-08 08:25 AM
Response to Original message
22. I just went out and watched the ISS travel almost directly overhead this morning
thanks to your heads up yesterday. I took a couple pictures but they're only squiggly lines with points of light here and there or I would post 'em.
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