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Space missions

ISS Visibility
Last post 06-11-2008 03:57 PM by mr Q. 5 replies.
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  • 06-10-2008 03:50 PM

    • mr Q
    • Joined on 02-02-2008
    • Edgewood, NM
    • Posts 556

    ISS Visibility

     My question is, when watching the animated globe on Heavens Above with the current position of the ISS, where on that globe would the Iss be as it comes into view above my 30-50 mile distant horizon? I'm also located 6,500 feet above sea level. Thanks in advance if anyone can help. Mr Q

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  • 06-10-2008 04:06 PM In reply to

    Re: ISS Visibility

    There is a tracking program on the NASA site that has coordinates for the ISS from your location.  I have been able to spot it each time I have tried, it is hard to miss when you know what you are looking for.

    http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html

    Good luck,

    Tina

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  • 06-10-2008 04:08 PM In reply to

    Re: ISS Visibility

    The animated globe display showing ISS current position (on the home  page at Heavens-Above) won't show you that. However, you can find it on the info page for the pass you select.

    What you do is enter your location and then select ISS under Satellites (10-day predictions). You'll see a new page with a table of any passes over that location. Click on the Date link for the pass you want to view.

    That will generate a new page with two charts. The top chart shows the path of the ISS through the sky overhead in a wide-angle view (horizon to horizon, in a bowl-like fashion).

    The bottom chart Detailed Chart) shows the track through the sky in a linear map. If you look at the line that marks the ISS's track, you'll not various times are listed along the line. The tick marks denote the location of the ISS at the time listed beside the mark.

    You can change the size of this chart to print out more legibly if you like.

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  • 06-10-2008 05:52 PM In reply to

    • mr Q
    • Joined on 02-02-2008
    • Edgewood, NM
    • Posts 556

    Re: ISS Visibility

     Thanks for the info. What I wanted to know, asked in a different way, is when the ISS first appears over my horizon visually in the ESE, at that moment, what's directly under the ship; E NM, TX, LA,FL.,etc.?  Knowing what's directly under the ISS as it appears on my horizon is what I'm trying to figure out. Like seeing a very large (tall) cumulus cloud at the horizon - at what distance from me is the cloud directly over (20 miles away, 50,etc.).

       I tried this with high flying a/c and planes at about 50,000'  appeared on a tracking map about 50-75 miles from my location when visually they were near my horizon. Maybe this example gives you an idea of what I'm trying to figure out?  Knowing what is directly below the ISS when it first appears in my horizon is what I'm trying to figure out. Mr Q
     

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    What goes around, comes around, eventually.

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  • 06-10-2008 08:10 PM In reply to

    • goon
    • Joined on 12-27-2007
    • Pensacola, Florida
    • Posts 183

    Re: ISS Visibility

     How about assume a flat earth and use a trig function?  cos = adj/hyp

    HeavensAbove gives the direction and distance to the ISS (hyp)  for  0 deg, 10 deg,  and whatever the max is.

    Actually, I just now see that there's a link to the ground track at the top of the  "visible pass details" page. No need for trig.

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  • 06-11-2008 03:57 PM In reply to

    • mr Q
    • Joined on 02-02-2008
    • Edgewood, NM
    • Posts 556

    Re: ISS Visibility

     Goon - Thanks so much for pointing out that link to the ground track. How I missed it before is beyond me. It's the exact info I was looking for plus a ground area visibility tracking chart - excellent!

     Thanks again for the help  . Mr Q

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    What goes around, comes around, eventually.

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    10x50, 10x70 binos
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