Quick - Go look at the Sky!

Got this by e-mail from Mel Peterson (former Planetarium Director at Augie). Sorry I didn't get this online sooner, but if you miss it today, try tomorrow.

The shuttle Atlantis will appear at 9:30:48, about 30 seconds before the International Space Station in the NW and the path will be the same as the ISS only slightly ahead. The midpoint will be NNE at 9:33:31 at 39 degrees and will disappear in the E. The shuttle will be about 0.5 magnitudes brighter.

Tomorrow night the shuttle will appear at 9:51:16 in the WNW with midpoint at 9:54:00 and 68 deg in the WSW and disappear in the SE at 23 deg and 9:55:44

Hope the sky remains clear both nights and good luck.

Remember they are travelling at about 17,000mph at about 225 miles above us.

Mel

Of course, this applies to the QC area.

Update 9:39pm: That was awesome! I watched them in among the trees until about the highest point, then I had a clear view from there. It was like a cosmic footrace. Is it meaningful that the one in the lead was the brighter "star"? I was rooting for the underdog, of course.

I think it's pretty nerdcool how you can tell where the sun is below the horizon by where they fade out of view and into the earth's shadow.

Where is the shuttle now? Try zooming in. Neat, huh? Thanks for the link, Jake.