Double Flyby

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Space Weather News for March 16, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

FLYBY ALERT: In a twilight launch of stunning beauty, space shuttle Discovery left Earth last night on a two week construction mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery is now approaching the ISS for docking on March 17th. The timing of this mission favors sky watchers in North America and Europe who will be able to see the two spacecraft flying over many towns and cities in the evenings ahead. Tonight, March 16th, is extra-special because the not-yet-docked duo will appear as distinct points of bright light flying one after the other through the twilight sky--a rare "double flyby." Check the Simple Satellite Tracker for flyby times:

http://spaceweather.com/flybys .



I saw one of these about a year ago. They aren't just points of light going by....

Comparatively speaking, if a regular satellite is like a fly, the Shuttle is like a moth and the Space Station is like a freakin' hummingbird. You'd think it was an airliner going by but it's silent and there aren't any navigation lights.



I like “Heavens Above” ( http://heavens-above.com/ ). It gives you everything you need. Register and it saves Lat and Lon for multiple user-defined locations.

for example -------




Pass Details
Date: Monday, 16 March, 2009
Satellite: ISS
Observer's Location: Clarks Hill Reservoir
Local Time: Eastern Daylight Time (GMT - 4:00)
Orbit: 348 x 361 km, 51.6° (Epoch 15 Mar)
Sun altitude at time of maximum pass altitude: -15.6°





Reaches 10° altitude at 20:46:30
Azimuth 274° (W )
1,321 km distant

Reaches maximum altitude at 20:48:46
Altitude 20°
Azimuth 325° (NW )
892 km

Enters Earth’s shadow at 20:51:36
Altitude 7°
Azimuth 22° (NNE)
1,501 km

Drops below 10° altitude at 20:51:03
Azimuth 15° (NNE)
1,321 km


The Hubble goes by 20 minutes earlier to the SSW, 10° higher in the sky…..

Unfortunately my forecast is for nothin’ but clouds! < GRRRRR >

Maybe you'll have better luck!

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FUBAR.

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“well the 17th is not lost...for those of us in Alabammy anyway...LOL”

“It's cool to catch them flying over in formation, though ---- in this case Discovery just a half minute in front of the Station, I guess. When I saw them that last time, the Shuttle had just undocked for reentry so it was following just a few seconds behind.

(out of context?)”