Tehachapi Skywatch: Space station brightness is dazzling
Tehachapi Skywatch: Space station brightness is dazzling
By: Dale Hawkins, Tehachapi News Columnist
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Posted by editor Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:59:19 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments I've been spending many of these summer evenings and mornings enjoying all that the night sky can offer. In the last few weeks I've seen several events that most people never see. I've seen a meteor flash through my binoculars and saw an airplane fly across my telescope field directly between Venus and Saturn. Thrice I've seen a satellite cruising through my telescope. (You may think that spotting satellites and meteors telescopically would be an extraordinary event due to a telescope's narrow field of view. However telescopes also brighten many objects that are too faint to be seen with the naked eye, which increased the odds considerably.) But the most spectacular sighting of all was International Space Station Alpha, which cruised directly overhead as the brightest object in the morning sky. I didn't even have to confirm what I was looking at, for nothing else could have been that bright, moved that fast, and yet not make a sound.
For two reasons, sighting Alpha has become far easier since it was first launched. First, it is now much larger and therefore reflects much more sunlight, making it much brighter. Indeed, with Space Shuttle Endeavour docked with here shiny side down, it is brighter than usual. More hardware will be added to the station in October, December, and February, and April, further brightening the station. Secondly, the Internet provides easy access to information about when and where to look for it. NASA maintains a website, http://spaceflight1.nasa.go... which provides a guide to viewing the space station and other prominent satellites.
I am going to start including information in this column on good evening opportunities to catch sight of the station. Unfortunately, this week's best chance is not a good one. On Thursday, Aug. 16, at exactly 9:38 p.m., the shuttle/station combo will pass only thirteen degrees above the horizon from the north to north-northeast (left to right). It will be visible for only about one minute. Let me know if you catch it at hawk@ieee.org!
Manned Space Watch
Endeavor is adding a new truss to Space Station Alpha. She is scheduled to return on Sunday morning, Aug. 19, touching down at 10:20 a.m. Tehachapi Time.
While the tragedy at Scaled Composites has been thoroughly covered in other articles, I wish to pass along my personal condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of those who lost their lives as they worked to make spaceflight possible for you and me. It's a strong reminder that space travel will always have its risks, and not only while in flight.
Space Probe Watch - Phoenix off to Mars
The Phoenix Mars lander is on its way to study ice and soil samples at Mars' arctic region. It is scheduled to touch down in late May of next year. To learn more about the Phoenix mission, go to http://www.nasa.gov/mission...
Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity continue to weather Martian dust storms. The situation has improved slightly. The sky has cleared enough to increase energy output of the solar cells, allowing nearly full charging of the rover's batteries. However, neither is expected to be roving again real soon. "Conditions are still dangerous for both rovers and could get worse before things get better," said John Callas, rover project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.
Night Sky Watch
With a new moon last Sunday, the moon will grow brighter each evening. Clear skies are expected, giving us great astronomy after the moon sets.
The Perseid Meteor Shower has passed its peak, but a few meteors can still be seen in the early morning hours.
Jupiter commands the southern sky, outshining all but the moon. Neptune reaches opposition on Monday, Aug. 13.
Sunrise/Sunset (PDT)
6:14 a.m./7:42 p.m.
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