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Showing posts with label ISS flybys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ISS flybys. Show all posts

Sep 20, 2010

Earth meets Jupiter (aligned w Uranus) 9.20/21.10

Midnight. Be There!

Space Weather News for Sept. 20, 2010

JUPITER AT ITS BEST: Tonight, Sept 20-21, Earth and Jupiter converge for their closest encounter in decades. The giant planet will soar across the sky at midnight, outshining everything except the Moon itself. Although big, bright Jupiter will remain close to Earth for weeks to come, tonight is the closest of all.

Check SpaceWeather.com for images and more information.

SPACE STATION RADAR ECHO: Over the weekend, the International Space Station flew through the radar beam of the US Air Force Space Surveillance System in Texas. The echo was strong enough to be heard by amateur radio operators across the southern USA. A sample echo is highlighted on today's edition of SPACE WEATHER ALERTS. (My bolds and italics; their news - jc.)

With the coming of northern autumn, aurora season is underway. Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt at your latitude? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: Space Weather Phone. #

You realize what this means, right? The current emphasis on Jupiter by the astronomical community simultaneously spotlights its 'conjoined' companion, Uranus, thus lifting up the Jupiter/Uranus pair of planets, their energies working synergistically. Their Great Conjunction (appr a 14-year cycle from conj to conj) is a planetary signature of 2010 on into 2011 since their third and final tango occurs on January 4, 2011 @ 27Pis02 (timed with my personal Solar Return 2011 - thanks, Universe! jc)

Astrologically, the above alert speaks of Sun 28Vir23 opposite Jupiter 28Pis23 Rx (conjunct Uranus 28Pis37 Rx) which is physically why the Earth-Jupiter encounter will be such a spectacle! From 'A Man Gaining Knowledge from an Ancient Scroll' to 'A Prism', this should be an interesting evening....really, all week has celestial events occurring, in fact. Such as Autumn EQ 2010 on Wednesday a and Full Moon on the Cardninal axis 00Aries/Libra00, a World Point of Manifestation. This makes for a very strong and eventful Autumn Equinox horoscope.

(Wish more could be added here but my article is simmering on the hob, awaiting a final go-round toward fini-dom...)

So! In your happiest Jupiter/Uranus fashion, discover more on the amazing things that happen when Jupiter Meets Uranus from the amazing-herself astrologer of the Scottish persuasion (and if I were better at tracking my ancestry, we might turn out to be cousins, who knows?)...Anne Whitaker!

May 23, 2010

Solar Transit Photo and Sun Gemini-Moon Libra May 23, 2010

First, some Astronomy:

Space Weather News for May 23, 2010

SOLAR TRANSIT: Yesterday in Switzerland, Thierry Legault photographed the International Space Station and space shuttle Atlantis passing directly in front of the sun, not far from new sunspot 1072. The veteran astrophotographer calls the image his "best ever of a solar transit," and indeed the silhouette of the docked spaceships backlit by "solar fire" is a must see.

It is featured on today's edition of SpaceWeather News.

DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT: Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Sunday, May 23, at 11:22 am EDT, setting the stage for double flybys over many towns and cities around the world.

Need a flyby prediction? There's an app for that called simpleflybys. #

~:~

Now for a smidgen of Astrology:

Checking Sunday May 23, 2010 at 11:22 am edt I see that the Sun is in very early Gemini (air flight) while the Moon is in the first decan of Libra, a sociable and light placement for La Luna.

Here are the 'Images for Integration' for Sun Gem-Moon Lib with its 'wandering spirit' vibe:

A shuttle diplomat brings together warring factions...An elegant hostess puts on a party and exhibition to help a worthy cause...Elgar's Enigma Variations - 'to my friends depicted within'. ('Sun Sign-Moon Sign', Charles and Suzi Harvey.)

Additionally, the double Air blend of Sun Gem-Moon Lib is shared natally by at least three people for whom I shall type a quote from each of them but I'll mix up their names with a red herring tossed in so you have to hazard brilliant guesses as to who said what:

1. "I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on."

2. "Henceforth, the adequacy of any military establishment will be judged by its ability to keep the peace."

3. "Read. My. Lips. No. New. Taxes."


All are gibberish on some level as Airiness abounds! Want clues? Then read on...

Possible spouters are: Henry Kissinger, Josephine Baker, George H. W. Bush, and Daffy Duck. (I'm just kidding about one of them.)

For of course I jest! Because there's really no comparison between Poppy Bush and Daffy Duck. One walks with a waddle, kind of wobbly, quacks out of the side of his mouth, and has been around for what seems like forever...and the other one is Daffy Duck.

(All credit goes to Mr. Craig Ferguson of CBS's The Late Late Show for the basic form of this jibe but not its precise content.)

Aug 16, 2009

Monday, Aug 17, 2009: Venus, Crescent Moon, ISS flyby

This just in...

Space Weather News for Aug 16, 2009

MONDAY MORNING SKY SHOW: Set your alarm for dawn. On Monday morning, Aug 17, Venus and the Crescent Moon will gather beautifully close together in the eastern sky. For many observers in North America, the International Space Station (ISS) will make an appearance, too. It's a fantastic way to begin the day.

Check SpaceWeather.com for a sky map and ISS flyby predictions.

~:~

And astrologically we check our software or ephemeris to see that Moon @ 13Cancer will be conjunct US natal Sun at sunrise on Aug 17, 2009, with Venus in Cancer, too - almost at critical degree, 20 Cancer. That's emphasizing Pluto's Heliocentric North Node '20Can'; and Venus/Pluto contacts can bring jealousies, transformative Art and/or Love, and bankruptcies, among other things.

Relationships of all kinds are being given a celestial heads-up.

August 17, 2009 in Washington, DC, sunrise edt:

Sun 24Leo39 rises in opposition to US natal Moon in Aquarius, Sun/Moon midpoint conjoins President Obama's natal Mercury 2Leo20 for this picture...

Sun/Moon = Mercury: thoughts about marriage and relationships in general; plans for fulfillment. (This picture is supported by the involvement of 2009 Inaugural Mercury Rx 00AQ+.)

And perhaps Mr. Obama's natal Jupiter in AQ (opposite his n Mercury) can join in for a big ole group hug:

Sun/Moon = Jupiter: enthusiasm for life; success; desire for joint endeavors; sound mental and emotional disposition; marriage; a happy relationship.

Well, Happy Monday, Everyone - even if you 'accidentally' sleep past dawn's lovely celestial show!

May 27, 2009

Space Station Flares intense but not a mystery

Often the SpaceWeather News arrives a day late but is always timely for astronomical events...

Space Weather News for May 26, 2009

SPACE STATION FLARES: Lately, a growing number of observers are reporting intense "flares" coming from the International Space Station (ISS). During some night time flybys, the luminosity of the space station surges 10-fold or more. Some people have witnessed flares of magnitude -8 or twenty-five times brighter than Venus.

A movie featured on today's edition of SpaceWeather.com shows what is happening: sunlight glints from the station's recently expanded solar arrays in a shadow-casting flash.

Currently, the flares are unpredictable. You watch a flyby not knowing if one will happen or how bright it might be. That's what makes the hunt for "ISS flares" so much fun. Sky watchers in North America should be alert for flares this week. The ISS is making a series of evening passes over many US and Canadian towns and cities.

Flyby times are available from Simple Satellite Tracker.

Would you like a phone call when the ISS is about to fly over your hometown? Sign up for Space Weather Phone!

Jul 22, 2008

Look up! space junk descending

Space Weather News for July 22, 2008

DESCENDING SPACE JUNK: Almost exactly one year ago, on July 23, 2007, International Space Station astronauts threw an obsolete, refrigerator-sized ammonia reservoir overboard.

The 1400-lb piece of space junk has been circling Earth ever since and now, in July 2008, its orbit has decayed so much that it has become an easy naked-eye target for backyard sky watchers.

The "Early Ammonia Servicer" (EAS for short) is almost as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper and growing brighter as it descends.

Today's edition of SpaceWeather.com displays photos of the EAS, which is expected to burn up in Earth's atmosphere in late 2008 or early 2009.

Readers who wish to see the EAS with their own eyes should check the Simple Satellite Tracker for flyby times: flybys - Europeans are favored with flybys this week, North Americans next week.

Jul 17, 2008

Jupiter, the Moon, and ISS flybys

Space Weather News for July 16 and 17, 2008

PRETTY SKY ALERT: The brightest lights in the night sky are having a get-together. On July 16th and 17th, Jupiter and the nearly-full Moon will be side-by-side in the constellation Sagittarius. The pair rise in the southeast just after nightfall and remain visible all night long.

That's not all: The International Space Station is making a series of evening passes over Europe and North America and it will join Jupiter and the Moon over many towns and cities.

Check the Simple Satellite Tracker to find out when to look: Flybys!

COLLIDING STORM UPDATE: Earlier this month, Jupiter's Little Red Spot got caught between two larger storms (the Great Red Spot and Oval BA), and the Little Red Spot was destroyed. Or was it?

New amateur photos of Jupiter show that the Little Red Spot may be re-forming. Not only that, it seems to be drifting back toward the Great Red Spot for a second collision.

Updates will be posted on SpaceWeather.com as the storms converge anew.

Jun 29, 2008

A lavender sun and ISS flybys

Space Weather News for June 29, 2008


LAVENDER SUN:

Ignited by lightning, hundreds of wildfires are burning in California, smothering the northern half of the state with thick plumes of smoke. The unusually widespread haze is causing a rare atmospheric optics phenomenon--the lavender sun. Many Californians report seeing the sun, when viewed through the smoke, turn a bright shade of purple.

Today's edition of the SpaceWeather News features pictures of the phenomenon and an explanation.

ISS AT DAWN:

A new batch of ISS flybys is underway. For the next two weeks, Europeans and North Americans can see the International Space Station flying overhead just before dawn.

Recent additions to the station have made it bigger and brighter than ever and if you haven't seen the ISS in a while, you might be surprised by its increased luminosity. Some sky watchers have spotted it in broad daylight.

Check our Simple Flybys page to find out when to look. #

~~:~~

For those who may be interested in Hollywood more than in Politics, see Jude's Threshold for today's new CelebChart: Angelina Jolie.

Jun 2, 2008

ISS: please don't squeeze the Charmin'

Well, NASA's shuttle is on its way since Saturday to offer plunging assistance to the Spy--er...I mean, Space Station's private facilities...Monster Clog in Space!

Now here's a 3D alert of merit for you:

Space Weather News for June 1, 2008

ICY MARTIAN 3D: NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander may have already found ice at its landing site without even digging for it. Exhaust from the lander's descent engine appears to have swept aside a layer of topsoil, exposing frozen material beneath.

Today's edition of SpaceWeather shows images of the find along with some eye-popping stereo views of the lander's surroundings.

SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY: Space shuttle Discovery blasted off from Cape Canaveral yesterday and now it is chasing the International Space Station (ISS) around Earth. Sky watchers should be alert for the two spacecraft streaking across the heavens tonight.

Check our global satellite tracking tool for flyby times:

flybys #

Hmmm...chasing the ISS? Perhaps there's a festoon of toilet paper stuck to its shoe...?

May 18, 2008

Space Station flybys or watch the movie!

Space Weather News for 18 May 18, 2008


ISS MARATHON: The 2008 "ISS Marathon" gets underway this week when the International Space Station spends three days (May 21-23) in almost-constant sunlight. Sky watchers in Europe and North America can see the bright spaceship gliding overhead two to four times each night.

The ISS is as bright as Venus or Jupiter, so even people in light-polluted cities can see it. Please use our new and improved simple Satellite Tracker to find out when to look:

SpaceWeather flybys

SPACE STATION MOVIE: Today's edition of spaceweather.com features a must-see movie of the International Space Station flying over Germany on May 12. Although it looks like footage from a satellite or high-powered telescope, the movie was made by an amateur astronomer using a backyard 5-inch refractor.

As a result of ongoing construction (every shuttle flight in recent months has added a new piece to the ISS), the space station is now a wide and easy target for amateur-class telescopes.

Catch the show at SpaceWeather.com

May 1, 2008

Space Station joins Jupiter in May!

Space Weather News for May 1, 2008

FLYBY ALERT: This is a good month for spaceship spotting. On May 1st, the International Space Station (ISS) begins a 4-week series of bright flybys over North America and Europe. In early May, the ISS joins Jupiter and the stars of the Summer Triangle in a glittering pre-dawn sky. Later in the month, increasingly-frequent flybys shift to evening hours and the ISS will be crossing paths with Saturn, the Moon and Mars.

US and Canadian readers, check our Simple Satellite Flybys tool to find out when to look. (European readers, an international version of the flybys tool will be available in the near future--stay tuned.)

EXPLORE THE IONOSPHERE: The ionosphere is our planet's "final frontier." A realm of dancing auroras, radio-bending plasma bubbles and dangerous ultraviolet rays, it is the last wisp of Earth's atmosphere that astronauts leave behind when they enter space. Now you can explore the ionosphere from the safety of your own home.

Yesterday, NASA-supported researchers unveiled a "4D" computer model for the general public. Download a few files and presto--you're flying through the ionosphere. The model shows the ionosphere as it is right now; it's a real-time display based on current solar activity and atmospheric conditions.

Visit SpaceWeather.com to get started.