STS-120: Discovery Sightings

[nathan.moeller]

Thanks Robert.  I'm hoping for a landing on the second KSC opportunity!!  She'll pass just north of us!

[ZANL188]

Severe clear and cool this morning in South Georgia for ISS & Shuttle visual pass though I could not distinguish two vehicles.  The twosome came up out of the southwest, passed just inside Orions right foot, went overhead at 86 deg alt at 05:51:45AM, then headed towards the northeast while passing down the handle of the Big Dipper.

I've been observing shuttle & iss passes for the past decade and, although I could not see 2 vehicles, this was the best I've seen yet.... was also cool to watch the undocking on NASA TV, then run outside for the pass, & then run back in to watch the flyaround.

[James Lowe1]

No need for two threads on the same thing. Merged.

[nathan.moeller]

ZANL188 - 5/11/2007  2:37 PM

Severe clear and cool this morning in South Georgia for ISS & Shuttle visual pass though I could not distinguish two vehicles.  The twosome came up out of the southwest, passed just inside Orions right foot, went overhead at 86 deg alt at 05:51:45AM, then headed towards the northeast while passing down the handle of the Big Dipper.

I've been observing shuttle & iss passes for the past decade and, although I could not see 2 vehicles, this was the best I've seen yet.... was also cool to watch the undocking on NASA TV, then run outside for the pass, & then run back in to watch the flyaround.

Two distinct vehicles weren't visible until Discovery was trailing ISS by a good distance.  I saw the pair pass overhead at 6:21 am and it was one of the most impressive views I've ever seen.

[jeklund]

Here's to a first opportunity pass almost right over KC!    

[CTdave]

 

It's cool thinking that two people who are hundreds of miles apart can look up and see the same exact objects traversing a morning sky.

Remember the line from M.A.S.H. when (I forget his name) the guy who always dated "hot lips" was lost off base & they were talking to him on the radio.

Base; What is your location?
guy; I'm directly under the brightest star in the sky, right.......................now (as he walked around a bit)

[Andy_Small]

okay question on the first approach...it will be quite a bit south of where I am at.  I won't be able to see her unless she's right over the top of me right?

[CTdave]

ZANL188 - 5/11/2007  2:37 PM

Severe clear and cool this morning.
I've been observing shuttle & iss passes for the past decade and, although I could not see 2 vehicles, this was the best I've seen yet.... was also cool to watch the undocking on NASA TV, then run outside for the pass, & then run back in to watch the flyaround.

Same weather here in CT & I was doing exactly as you were

[orion61]

Not sure if anyone's posted this, but if you go to the Skywatch java applet at the following link, it will give more precise information on where to look in the sky if a sighting is possible and/or if you might be able to hear the sonic booms.  The booms are generally not audible if the pass is below 20 degrees elevation, according to Nasa, but a sighting may still be possible.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/JavaSSOP.html

To use it, go to the "Input" tab, and key in your location (either select from the pull down menus and map or give latitude/longitude).  Select the landing opportunity (KSC238 for the first or KSC239 for the second in this case) under the "satellite" pull-down.
Then click the "Next Sighting" button, and go to the "Table" tab to see the information, including elevation, range and azimuth.

Good luck and hope this helps!

[MKremer]

Andy_Small - 5/11/2007  2:55 PM

okay question on the first approach...it will be quite a bit south of where I am at.  I won't be able to see her unless she's right over the top of me right?

Depends on the reentry altitude in your vicinity. The further away, the closer to the horizon - at transition it could be 200 miles or more, at the end of peak heating maybe 100 miles or less.

[ZANL188]

nathan.moeller - 5/11/2007  2:42 PM


Two distinct vehicles weren't visible until Discovery was trailing ISS by a good distance.  I saw the pair pass overhead at 6:21 am and it was one of the most impressive views I've ever seen.

I've observed proximity ops before from the ground where I could not see 2 vehicles and the guy next to me could... of course I had about 20 years on him ....

Where were you at 0621AM?  North Atlantic?

[nathan.moeller]

ZANL188 - 5/11/2007  3:11 PM

nathan.moeller - 5/11/2007  2:42 PM


Two distinct vehicles weren't visible until Discovery was trailing ISS by a good distance.  I saw the pair pass overhead at 6:21 am and it was one of the most impressive views I've ever seen.

I've observed proximity ops before from the ground where I could not see 2 vehicles and the guy next to me could... of course I had about 20 years on him ....

Where were you at 0621AM?  North Atlantic?

I live in Lubbock, TX, so it was 6:21 CST/7:21 EST when they flew overhead (just under an hour after undocking).  I don't know if this helps, but if you held your pointer finger and thumb about an inch apart and held them up to the sky at arm's length, that's about how far apart they were at the time of the sighting.

[nichojo]

Wow. Wednesday is going to be a INCREDIBLE day for me if they opt for the first opportunity. In Auburn, AL, it will pass about 30 miles away at 11:49. I cannot wait and I'm praying I will get to see it.

[nathan.moeller]

nichojo - 5/11/2007  4:05 PM

Wow. Wednesday is going to be a INCREDIBLE day for me if they opt for the first opportunity. In Auburn, AL, it will pass about 30 miles away at 11:49. I cannot wait and I'm praying I will get to see it.

Welcome to the site and best of luck Although I have to hope they come in on the second try.  If they don't, I think I'll get a shot on STS-125.  STS-103 and STS-109 flew right over Texas during their entries.  So, if not Wednesday, maybe next August!

[nichojo]

nathan.moeller - 5/11/2007  4:09 PM

nichojo - 5/11/2007  4:05 PM

Wow. Wednesday is going to be a INCREDIBLE day for me if they opt for the first opportunity. In Auburn, AL, it will pass about 30 miles away at 11:49. I cannot wait and I'm praying I will get to see it.

Welcome to the site and best of luck Although I have to hope they come in on the second try.  If they don't, I think I'll get a shot on STS-125.  STS-103 and STS-109 flew right over Texas during their entries.  So, if not Wednesday, maybe next August!

Thanks for the welcome! At this point in its flight, what would one expect in terms of visibility?

[nathan.moeller]

nichojo - 5/11/2007  4:18 PM

nathan.moeller - 5/11/2007  4:09 PM

nichojo - 5/11/2007  4:05 PM

Wow. Wednesday is going to be a INCREDIBLE day for me if they opt for the first opportunity. In Auburn, AL, it will pass about 30 miles away at 11:49. I cannot wait and I'm praying I will get to see it.

Welcome to the site and best of luck Although I have to hope they come in on the second try.  If they don't, I think I'll get a shot on STS-125.  STS-103 and STS-109 flew right over Texas during their entries.  So, if not Wednesday, maybe next August!

Thanks for the welcome! At this point in its flight, what would one expect in terms of visibility?

I can't say for sure, to be honest.  I think they're coming out of the entry stage at that point and the glow would be dimming as she descends through the upper atmosphere.  But I almost guarantee you'll get rocked by the twin sonic booms as she flies overhead.  I've never heard them myself, but I listened to a recording of Atlantis' booms during entry after STS-115 and it was absolutely stunning.  They're not so much 'bangs' as they are booming pulses.  Just amazing.

[MKremer]

nichojo - 5/11/2007  4:18 PM

Thanks for the welcome! At this point in its flight, what would one expect in terms of visibility?

If it were me, I'd stand in a shaded area and start scanning toward the horizon in the direction of the reentry track (probably NE or NNE?), and look for a moving bright dot. Once you spot it, binoculars may help keep it in sight if it's past the area of peak heating as it heads toward the SE.

[MKremer]

nathan.moeller - 5/11/2007  4:21 PM

I can't say for sure, to be honest.  I think they're coming out of the entry stage at that point and the glow would be dimming as she descends through the upper atmosphere.  But I almost guarantee you'll get rocked by the twin sonic booms as she flies overhead.  I've never heard them myself, but I listened to a recording of Atlantis' booms during entry after STS-115 and it was absolutely stunning.  They're not so much 'bangs' as they are booming pulses.  Just amazing.

At the altitude at that point (likely still well above 200K feet), and the atmospheric density, it's very doubtful you'd hear anything at all.
(Compared with Concorde which flew below 60K ft at supersonic speeds)

[Bubbinski]

If there's an orbit 239 landing....there would be a pass right over Salt Lake!  I'll be watching.....

[MKremer]

Bubbinski - 5/11/2007  4:43 PM

If there's an orbit 239 landing....there would be a pass right over Salt Lake!  I'll be watching.....

And pretty much over the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. (Too bad I live in S.Texas!  :bleh: )