Have you ever seen the International Space Station with your naked eye? In the next few days you might get your chance! The European Space Agency’s (ESA) fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-5) launched Tuesday, July atop an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The ATV-5 will take a two week trip to the International Space Station docking to the Zvezda service module on August 12 with 7 tons of science, food, fuel and supplies. ATV-5 sighting times can be found at heavens-above. The first overhead ISS appearance will be on the morning of Friday, August 1 at 4:41 am, appearing from WNW, overhead at 85 degrees SSW and then disappears in ESE. The second overhead ISS appearance will be on the morning of Saturday, August 2 at 3:52 am, appearing from WNW, visible at 64 degrees NNE and then disappears in ESE. The third overhead ISS appearance will be on the evening of Sunday, August 3 at 11:00 pm, appearing from WSW, visible at 64 degrees NNW and then disappears in NE. The fourth and best overhead ISS appearance will be on the evening of Monday, August 4 at 10:11 pm, appearing from WSW, visible at 85 degrees SSE and then disappears in ENE. To the unaided eye the space station appears as a very bright point of light generally traveling from west to east that does not twinkle and moving against the stars in the background. As to just how bright it should get, it should be plainly visible even from your own backyard. Thanks to Jim Todd, Space Science Director for this information!
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:10:00 +0000
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