Re: Viewing of Station and Shuttle.

Why not track it on your computer with something like Heavensat and receive
its radio signals on a scanner, it all adds to the experience !

John
"Craig Fink" <WeBeGood@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:13huec2c9becb89@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jim Oberg wrote:

Wonderful pass of ISS and Discovery about 8 PM last night
from my son's backyard in Houston. I showed them both (12 minutes apart)
to my
6-year-old grandson, and described how the shuttle was chasing the
station, and he noticed that the shuttle, when it appeared, was well off
to the
left (west) of the station track. So I got to explain how he had
just seen proof that Earth was rotating. Made sense to him.

Both ISS and shuttle also went into shadow near zenith, and he wondered
why. Back in his bedroom (it was past his official bedtime but his mom
gave him an official waiver), we played with models of objects passing
into the shadow of other objects, using his bed reading light as the sun.

Cool.

I agree, viewing was great in the Houston area. It was really impressive
to
watch the Space Station and Shuttle go through sunset onorbit. Dimming
then
orange and finally fading into a very deep red. I wonder if the geometry
was right and the fires in California contributed to the impressive color
change.

Where they disappeared has a little bit to do with the Earths rotation,
but
the major effect is the altitude difference between the Station and
Orbiter. The Shuttle being much lower and closer to the Earth hits the
Sunset line first. Being in a lower orbit to catch up with the Space
Station.

I'm glad you used such a good opportunity to teach your grandson. Looks
like
we should have more good viewing in Houston for the next three days.

--
Craig Fink
Courtesy E-Mail Welcome @ WeBeGood@xxxxxxxxx



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