Tonight at about 8:25 was the brightest pass of the Internationa Space Station I've ever seen, topping out at magnitude -3.5, taking about 5 minutes and passing almost directly overhead. It was easily as bright as Venus! Last week I thought the kids would finally see a pass, since it was due to occur that very day just after the program ended. Several kids and parents waited patiently with me, hoping it would peek out from behind the growing clouds, but we never saw it. Since last week's 5:30pm pass was in broad daylight, I wondered whether perhaps the Skies Above site that gave the prediction was on standard time, rather than daylight time--making the real time an hour later. Alas, the clouds that afternoon quicky became a full overcast, so I didn't get to test the idea.
Tonight I did: and I can confidently report that the pass predicted for about 8:25 occurred at 8:25 eastern DAYLIGHT time. On the other hand, that doesn't mean the prediction software knows how bright the sky is at 5:30pm at this location and time of year!
If you haven't seen a pass yet, don't miss another bright one (-2.6) on Friday beginning at 8:08 in the west, rising to peak brightness at 8:11 high in the northern sky, and dropping from view at 8:14 in the northeast. Don't miss it!
Tonight I did: and I can confidently report that the pass predicted for about 8:25 occurred at 8:25 eastern DAYLIGHT time. On the other hand, that doesn't mean the prediction software knows how bright the sky is at 5:30pm at this location and time of year!
If you haven't seen a pass yet, don't miss another bright one (-2.6) on Friday beginning at 8:08 in the west, rising to peak brightness at 8:11 high in the northern sky, and dropping from view at 8:14 in the northeast. Don't miss it!
