International Space Station (ISS) - Sightings over the Virgin Islands

This actually sounds cool! I wonder if I can be able to see it more clearly from Point Udal

Heavens-above.com shows visible passes of the ISS every night from Wed 5/19 to Mon 5/24 (except for Sun 5/23). Click for times and directions:
For STX: http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=17.72776&lng=-64.7644&loc=St.+Croix&alt=0&tz=UCT4
For STT/STJ (at Red Hook): http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=18.32584&lng=-64.8519&loc=St.+Thomas+Red+Hook&alt=0&tz=UCT4

The ISS is easy to see. Don't worry about finding a dark place to view it. You can even see it in light-polluted skies, and at twilight before any stars are visible.

Please note that the other scheduled sightings may be a little difficult to see, because their maximum degrees of elevation are below 25 degrees. This is somewhat comparable to an "arc" type path nearer to the horizon (rather than closer to overhead paths) and are a two-minute runs or less in length.

Bob, I like 3-6 minute runs, greater than 40 degrees maximum elevation and those are the ones I post. Thank you for the additional info again though.

Enjoy the view everyone! The ISS is really a pretty thing up there to see and quite unforgetable.

Swan

Thanks again swan, my family and I enjoyed seeing the ISS last month so much. I just posted a flyer at school so all the kids and parents can see too.....and yes I asked them all to wave.

Good morning, Aquaponics,

I hope you and your family will enjoy the ISS again, especially since the Space Shuttle, Atlantis, is docked with it at this time. Perhaps they together will even shine brighter.

The astronauts have asked that people who see them 220 or so miles above give them a wave; when they have time to peer out the windows, they give a wave to us (just in case someone is watching them.) Honest!

Swan

Don't forget to watch tonight! (Fri 5/21)

Just watched it fly over. It was bright in the sky above Mandahl till a cloud blocked it.

Too cool

did you wave? I have to get a telescope.

Good view from Off the Wall. Boy, it really moves.

I watched it! It was amazing!

We are over by Red Hook and were able to see it for a short time because of cloud cover but then picked up again on the other side. We love it when she comes SSW. Then we can get a 4-5 minute viewing. Always awe-inspiring to watch.

The ISS seemed much brighter than usual last night (Fri 5/21), probably because it was in the east sky and reflecting more sunlight from our viewpoint (like a full moon), and because the Space Shuttle is docked to it, which added to the size of the whole thing.

You can look for it again tonight (Sat 5/22) at 7:47, from roughly west to south, but it won't be as high or as "full" or as bright:
Rise: 19:47:22 WNW at 10 degrees altitude
Max: 19:49:52 SW at 25 degrees altitude
Set: 19:51:48 S at 14 degrees altitude

Pretty thing, isn't it?

By the way, it moves at 17,500 MPH in case the kids are curious. At that speed, the ISS maintains orbit around the earth; If you want to return to earth, just lower that speed and start falling from orbit. Swan

From the Northside it was GREAT ! What a sight !!! We were amazed at the speed and the brightness.

Good night everyone:

Thought I would post the next sighting, but I'm a week ahead of myself! Sorry. I'll post it next weekend as we approach June 2nd. Have a great night.

Swan

You can see a lot of satellites tonight (Mon 5/24) from about 7pm to 8:15pm.

International Space Station (ISS). Not high up, and the sky won't be dark yet, but it lasts 5 minutes, so you should be able to find it.
Rise: 19:01:15 WNW 10 degrees altitude
Max: 19:03:41 SW 23 degrees altitude
Set: 19:06:06 S 10 degrees altitude

The rest are high up, in a dark sky:

Hubble Space Telescope:
Rise: 19:57:23 WNW 10 degrees altitude
Mix: 20:01:36 SW 77 degrees altitude
Set: 20:03:23 SE 35 degrees altitude

Genesis II:
Rise: 20:12:39 10 NNW degrees altitude
Max: 20:16:41 64 ENE degrees altitude
Set: 20:17:13 57 ESE degrees altitude

X-37B:
Rise: 20:14:15 SW 10 degrees altitude
Max: 20:17:37 NW 87 degrees altitude
Set: 20:17:49 NE 78 degrees altitude

Good day everyone,

The next good sighting of the ISS will be:

Wednesday, June 2nd. starting EXACTLY at 4:59 AM
A 3 minute run:
Directly overhead:
Arriving from the SW and Departing in the NE (SW to NE) Please note again: This is in the "MORNING" @ 4:59am. for really early risers or for those who work during those hours.

PS: There is another early morning ISS run on June 4th., but it is so far down on the horizon and so short a run, it is really not going to be easy to find; and it will have made it''s run by the time the station is located - if at all.

All the best, Swan

Good afternoon everyone,

The ISS will be passing over the VIs this Thursday - June 24th - in the evening:

Time: Starting EXACTLY at 8:01pm (8:01 to 8:05pm)
A 4 minute run
45 degrees max. elevation...(not quite overhead, but slightly off center)
Arriving from the WSW and Departing to the NNE (WSW to NNE)

Important reminder: use a cellphone for the time, because the timing is, indeed, exact.

I hope the sky is clear! Give em' a wave!

Swan

Boo hoo didn't see it this time! Too overcast . Keep us informed please!

Good night, Buck,

Sorry about the overcast. Here is the next sighting in the evening:

This Saturday - June 26th
At 7:19pm (7:19 - 7:23pm)
A 4 minute run
Arriving from the WSW and Departing to the N (WSW to North)

Maximum elevation is only 35 degrees; that means it will be a little more off-center from overhead than even tonights which was 45 degrees. It may not appear as bright (but, then again, it might because of the sun's position). Hope the sky is clear.

The ISS appears as a non-blinking bright light that simply glides across the sky. Thank you.

Swan

Good afternoon everyone,

ISS is back for a brief "hello" this Sunday evening (July 18th)

Time: Exactly 7:43pm
A 3 minute run (7:43 to 7:46pm)
A bit "off center from directly above" - at about 40 degrees max. elevation

Arriving from the NNW and Departing to the ESE. (NNW to ESE)

For exact timing, use a cellphone and ISS will appear as a bright, non-blinking light that gently crosses the sky. Just in case the crew is peering out the windows, give them a wave,

Swan

I hope it's a clear night ! It is so awesome to see that !

My husband and I have watched an object when we've stayed at the Coakley Bay condos on St Croix. The condos are on the northeast side of the island and face north or northeast. I don't know the correct way to put where this object is degree wise, but if we're sitting on the balcony facing to the north/northeast, when we look straight up to the northeast we can see this 'star' that blinks green,white, and red. We've often wondered just what we're looking at. Would anyone here know what it is? (in reading my description I sound practically illiterate-- sorry!)