Last night was just like most nights.  After a long day's work I prepared dinner for my wife and I, ate said dinner, and completed my evening chores by washing the dishes.  Only one thing remained and that was taking out the trash.

This is not a task to be shirked.  Indeed it can be a wonderful experience if the sky is clear, or depending on the time of year how close to sunset the removal of the household garbage is performed. Last night I timed the removal of said offal for 9:03 PM PST.

My mission was to dispose of the refuse and then proceed down the ally 20 feet which would afford me a good view of the Southwestern horizon.  The object of this foray was to capture the ISS and Shuttle with the old Mk 1 observing apparatus.  You know, the eyeball.

I arrived at my spot in the ally at the appointed time and was dissapointed as the marine layer was rapidly encroaching.  Due west the cloud bank reached up to about 20 degrees which precluded an ISS sighting.  But further along the track there was a break in the clouds and I waited.  I was rewarded at 9:05 when the ISS appeared in its path about 15 degrees above the horizon and was running along its course roughly parallel to the horizon moving from right to left.  Its orange/yellow colour was similar to that of Arcturus which was riding above the just past first quarter Moon but was just a bit dimmer. I could not see the shuttle but I attribute this to the age of my equipment.  The relative dimness of the ISS might have been caused by the murk and the altitude of the ISS/Shuttle track relative to my position in Orange County California.  I watched until the ISS suddenly faded from view about 9:09. 

Feeling quite happy at being to observe this passage I took a last look at the Moon and proceeded to return to my wife with a smile.   

Another dual mission accomplished.

L

I use to loathe performing that formidable task, until I got into amateur astronomy. Now I cherish the trips to the refuse bin, and the opportunity to view the night sky during the short outings. You never know what you might see in the few minutes it takes me to trek across the yard, and back.

I was able to see the ISS and the Shuttle, even though clouds were approaching from the south. By the time the duo disappeared into the cloud bank, they were dipping below the tree line anyway. I was satisfied with the sighting, even though I thwarted the imaging opportunity, which was covered in another thread. 

I have yet to experience the joy of spotting either the ISS or the Shuttle in spite of checking with HA religiously. I'll get it right one of these days.