Space Station flyover tonight, if skies clear
No promises here. The forecast is still not very encouraging. But if we get lucky, the International Space Station should be visible over Baltimore just after 7:30 this evening.
Here's the scoop: The ISS, with three astronauts on board, will be tracking northeast tonight, from North Florida to Cape Hatteras, and then out to sea. It may sound geeky, but lots of people have gotten a kick out of watching their tax dollars zip across the sky. Drag the kids away from their video games and get them to help you watch for the flyover. They're often the first to spot it. Young eyes.
As seen from Baltimore, the ISS will first appear above the southwest horizon at 7:34 p.m. Watch for what looks like a steady bright star, moving brisky toward the east. If it has multiple, or colored lights, it's an airplane. Keep looking.
It will reach it's highest point - about halfway between the southeast horizon and the zenith (straight up) at 7:37 p.m. From there, the station will track toward the northeast, appearing to pass very close to the planet Saturn and the bright star Regulus, which are side-by-side above the eastern horizon at that hour. The ISS will then disappear on the southeast at about 7:40 p.m.
Regular satellite watchers say the ISS has become very much brighter since astronauts have added new modules, solar panels and radiators. It can be the brightest object in the night sky.
After watching the flyover, come back here and leave us a comment, and share the experience with those who missed it. If this one is clouded out, we'll have a better shot tomorrow night. Stay tuned.
Remember, you can calculate ISS predictions for your own location at Heavens-Above.com








Comments
Hi Frank,
Tonight's pass seems to be similar to Wed. night's, which was very good. The Jules Verne ATV (from ESA) passed by a few minutes earlier than ISS. Jules Verne brightened until it was about as bright as Saturn. Tonight's ISS pass is earlier & the sky will be brighter.
Rich Stein
Posted by: Rich Stein | March 28, 2008 2:45 PM
I was out with the dog (Black Hills of South Dakota) and easily viewed the ISS on its next pass - was thrilled as didn't realize it would be visible Friday night - just blessed by a dog who needed a walk! What was the second object flying in tandem? Was that the Jules Verne mentioned by Rich? Where can we find information so we can deliberately watch for future flyovers?
FR: Go to www.heavens-above.com You can enter your location and it will provide you will predictions for the ISS and other objects, as well as a wealth of additional stargazing information.
Posted by: Family Sugrue | March 29, 2008 11:58 PM
Frank -
THANK YOU very much for the heavens-above site - we are having glorious amounts of fun planning our evenings - appreciate the guidance.
Pleasurable sky-gazing to you and yours...
Posted by: Family Sugrue | March 30, 2008 8:20 PM