International Space Station fly-over tonight

Supposed to be visible to people in central Florida tonight, Tuesday, May 18th between 9:15 and 9:25. Saw it about a month ago, quite visible to the nekkid eye despite high ambient light levels in downtown O-town. If it's following the same orbit, it will take about four minutes to pass from the SW sky to the NE sky. This means that maybe you folks in Naples, Sarasota and Tampa should be able to see it a few minutes earlier. Anybody seen mention of this in your local papers? Next opportunity is this Thursday, between 8:30 and 8:35 pm. Moves too fast for a telescope, maybe high-powered binoculars best for a closer look.

KevFla
Orlando, FL

 

I took this pic of the ISS about 15 minutes before the STS-131 launch from Titusville. Easy to see since dawn was coming and the sun was shining on the solar panels. Canon Rebel XT with 55mm kit lens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STS131_ISS_Moon_Cape.JPG

 

Largest man-made object in space! Any mention in the Tampa Trib or St Pete Times?

KevFla

 

I honestly didn't know it would be visible tonight (during one of the last LOST episodes no less! ). I will shoot an email to one of the docs I do research with at Moffitt..he's into this kind of stuff. Thanks for the heads up!

P.S. I was able to see STS-132 launch from campus...clouds cleared up enough.

 

For central Florida, look in the NW sky around 9:14 to 9:17 pm. The ISS is heading towards the SE sky. Anybody in Melbourne or Vero Beach have a local ETA?

KevFla

 

Your PM box is full! I'll send you some info once you clear some of it out. The last launch is in mid-November (probably black Friday). I'm trying to see as many of them up close as possible. The last ones I've seen since I moved to Florida (July 2009)

STS-128: had tickets on NASA property, scrubed. Saw at night from Tampa later in the week
STS-129: saw from Orlando since my car was in the body shop
STS-130: scrubed first attempt, went back the next night and saw it (Titusville)
STS-131: saw up close at night/dawn (Titusville)
STS-132: saw from Tampa at USF in the middle of my final exam (took a bathroom break and looked out the window)

 

She looked great from here in Tampa! Skies were nice and clear.

I put my picture on the STS-132 wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-132#May_18_.28Flight_Day_5_-_MRM1_installation.29

Direct link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SpaceStation_STS132_Tampa.JPG

 

They had it on the news this morning on FOX. I better set my alarm or I will never remember!

 

Had most of the crew out on the bridge wing last night as we were heading north in the Gulf of Suez... great show as the ISS flew right over us.... amazing !!!