How to see the Space Station pass overhead

There is a doomed spy satelite that is about to burn up in the atmosphere, and may be shot down by the US Navy to avoid injuries on the ground! Here is the thread about the spy satelite: http://boards.cannabis.com/current-e...-february.html

According to Space.com, you can use the same Heavens Above website that I use to see the Space Station to see this doomed spy satelite.

Here's the article: SPACE.com -- See the Falling Spy Satellite

As long as it isn't shot down, you can use the website to predict when and where the doomed spy satelite will pass over your area. After you enter your location, click the link for info on USA 193, and follow the links until you get to the prediction page.

If you are really far out in the country and miles away from the nearest town. You can see the space station and other satellites with the naked eye. It just looks like a star moving across the sky. Some times you can be lucky enough to see two satellites in the same orbit following each other. I always thought that was pretty cool. My family has land in the country and whenever I'm there and the night sky is clear, I always make a point to go out and stargaze. The Peresid meteor shower is a favorite of mine.

Well so today (or rather tonight) i smoked and went outside to look at the stars, which is an amazing thing to do when stoned. I trip heavily doing this. It seems the dark and starry sky is a place i long for, like if it were where i belong... anyway, its not the subject of this post.
While i was looking at the stars, i did see, slowly, a satellite passing through the stars. It seemed exactly as if one star were moving. Then i looked to see what time it was, and, surprisingly enough... it was 4.20 am! I just love this coincidences... :rastasmoke:
I did search in the satellites site above and found this informations about the satellite i did see:

Satellite Lacrosse 3
Mag 2.8
Starts
Time 04:19:43
Alt. 66°
Az. E
Max.Altitude
Time 04:19:43
Alt. 66°
Az. E
Ends
Time 04:24:04
Alt. 10°
Az. SE

Lacrosse 3- Information

Identification
USSPACECOM Catalog No.: 25017
International Designation Code: 1997-064-A

Satellite Details
Orbit: 652 x 659 km, 57.0°
Country/Org. of Origin: USA
Intrinsic brightness (Mag): 3.6 (at 1000km distance, 50% illuminated)
Maximum brightness (Mag): 1.7 (at perigee, 100% illuminated)

Launch
Date (UTC): October 24, 1997
Launch site: Vandenberg AFB,
California, USA
Launch vehicle: Titan 4

Description
Military reconnaissance satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dragonrider

Space is cool. I've got a pretty good telescope. Did you see my moon pics? http://boards.cannabis.com/science/1...telescope.html

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Nice pics! I added a few of the planets i took in your thread :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nightcrewman

With a good pair of binoculars or a telescope you can actually make out the shape of the space stations solar wings

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I bought a pair of 15x70's... a little unwieldy but not too bad if laying back in a lounge chair with them. And yes, i was able to make out the solar panels on the ISS with them - albeit very tiny, it was incredible to see.

Cool sit calculator, thanks, Im gonna use it, I have seen the shuttle and the space station, with teescopses and withh, binocs. but I sometimes have trouble finding them, it is like a crap shoot with a shot gun at times

argh! how much longer till we're living up there on a large scale???


Like the newest biggest city is gonna be some shit floating in space man! i cant wait!