UKC Forums - ISS and Space X launch.

ISS and Space X launch.

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Gone for good 26 May 2020

From Tim Peake.

Don't miss some great @iss passes coming up. Tonight at 22:08 (UK), look west towards the setting Moon and watch for a bright light moving to overhead. Tomorrow night you'll get both the ISS (21:20) and then if @spacex launches as planned, you'll see that too at 21:50.

Tom Valentine 26 May 2020

In reply to Gone for good:

ISS brightest I've ever seen it last night but I don't know why

Toerag 26 May 2020

In reply to Tom Valentine:

> ISS brightest I've ever seen it last night but I don't know why

Lack of atmospheric pollution due to lockdowns?

Pedro50 26 May 2020

In reply to Gone for good:

Great view of ISS about 4 days ago, but not dark enough here in the NE until after 10.00 for much. Will be alert as they say.

Lankyman 27 May 2020

In reply to Gone for good:

Thanks for the heads up. I went outside and watched it clearly last night. It's obvious to the naked eye that it's not a 'normal' satellite. I live in Lancashire and it appeared somewhat south (left) of the crescent moon. Predictably, my attempts to photograph it just produced squiggly blobs.

Toerag 27 May 2020

In reply to Gone for good:

Is the SpaceX launch being screened live online?

Bacon Butty 27 May 2020

In reply to Lankyman:

Here's my handheld point and shoot effort:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ae314/ajplusk/P1060497A.jpg?width=19...

First effort was a sqiggley line

nikoid 27 May 2020

In reply to Tom Valentine:

I don't understand why it is so reflective considering most of it is made up of solar panels. Shouldn't it be absorbing most of the light that comes its way?

Neil Adams 27 May 2020

In reply to nikoid:

> I don't understand why it is so reflective considering most of it is made up of solar panels. Shouldn't it be absorbing most of the light that comes its way?

Even the best solar cells (e.g. https://www.spectrolab.com/DataSheets/cells/PV%20XTJ%20Cell%205-20-10.pdf) only convert about 30% of the incoming energy.

Tom Valentine 27 May 2020

In reply to Gone for good:

Pity the rendezvous is in the middle of our afternoon

streapadair 27 May 2020

In reply to Toerag:

> Is the SpaceX launch being screened live online?

youtube.com/watch?v=Aymrnzianf0&

Lankyman 27 May 2020

In reply to Taylor's Landlord:

I got a similar one by leaning my camera on the fence. It looks a bit like two very bright fried eggs joined together in the pan (minus the yolks).

Andy Long 27 May 2020

In reply to Pedro50:

Likewise. Sunset here is at 22.05 tonight.

Niall_H 27 May 2020

In reply to Gone for good:

SpaceX launch scrubbed due to weather.

We still get the IIS sighting, though

Gone for good 27 May 2020

In reply to Niall_H:

Yep. Tropical storms heading towards Florida put paid to that attempt and from what I gather the next launch is planned for Saturday afternoon at which point it will be too light for us to observe.