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

I see it ... I'm waving

Isn't she beautiful!

Swan

All I can say is WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!! I totally forgot to look with the binoculars because I was spellbound. Thanks, Swan, for telling the board about it and keep keeping us posted.

Isn't she beautiful!

Swan

Very beautiful, thank you so much, I've always wanted to see it but have forgotten to look. I loved seeing it and waving to them, I think I saw them waving back!;)
Thank you Swan.

rhstoo, Thank you so much for your kind remarks. It would be my pleasure to keep the board informed of the Space Station's sightings. A pleasure, indeed.

Swan

Very cool, was at Chenay Bay when it passed. Man that thing was humming across the sky!

Thanks swans!

Goodnight chefnoah,

You are so very welcome. She certainly does move along!

Swan

Thanks again, swans...here's some photos!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/20/astronauts-tweet-amazing-_n_786379.html#s137927

Goodnight Aquaponics,

Thank you for this link and for the pictures.

Since observing Earth and taking these extraordinary pictures of it are favorite pastimes for the astronauts, there exists a very good possibility that they are looking down over the VI's when they glide over them as ISS followers wave back in turn.

And, thank you for your interest in ISS. She is beautiful, is she not?

Swan

Great link aquaponics!

Swan
Was there an ISS pass tonight 12/3 about 6:30?

Not sure, but swans sure has us all trained. On 12/1 about 6:30 my 4 yr old said Look Space Station daddy, and sure enough blazing across the sky was what looked like the space station. I think it may have been a satelite. Maybe that's what you saw last night 12/3??

thanks again swans!

Greetings Buck and Aquaponics,

LOL Aquaponics on having you trained. You certainly have a very bright 4yr.old! NASA will be wanting to speak with that child in a few more years, indeed!:-)

The sighting may have been a satellite but I couldn't be positive. I may be incorrect, but I have my doubts that a satellite could be moving at any appreciable speed at low earth orbit (LEO). Someone more knowledgable in satellites than I of LOE nature can add to that, I'm sure.

The sighting was not ISS. After the last posting of ISS, she then could only be viewed during the early morning hours between five(5) and six(6) or so; I don't usually post those sightings for obvious reasons. Right now, ISS is not passing over the VIs during the evening or morning hours, and when she does orbit overhead, she can't be seen due to the daylight.

It will a pleasure to post her return. Remind your 4yr old to give the crew a wave as they glide above us! And, thank you, everyone, for your interest in ISS.

Cheers,

Swan

Thanks everyone! I will keep looking to the sky!

Greetings to our stargazers,

I'd like to amend my statement regarding Low Earth Orbit Satellite Systems and their speeds in their orbits around Earth:
It is most probable that a Low Earth Orbit Satellite was, in fact, seen on 12/1 about 6:30PM. And it may have been one of the Iridium satellites.

Low Earth Orbit satellites travel at approximately 17,000 mph (ISS is close to that speed@ approx. 17,500mph).in order to maintain orbit. If what was seen during the evening of 12/1 appeared similar to the speed of ISS, then it probably was a LEO satellite. They are also orbiting between 200 and 500 miles above Earth. (ISS is at approx. 210 to 230 miles)

Some of the following LEO Satellite Systems "upstairs" are : Iridium; Teledesic; Starsys; Waldstar; Sativoid.

Sorry for any misinformation.

Swan

-Greetings,

ISS is returning to evening sightings once again with a spectacular "Merry Christmas" to all on:

Monday - Dec. 20th.
Time: 6:51 PM (use the cellphone clock for accuracy)
Run time: 3 minutes
Directly overhead
Arriving from the SSW and Departing to the ENE (SSW to ENE)

ISS is located approx. 210-230 miles high, is the size of a football field, travels at approx. 17,500mph to maintain orbit, will weigh one million lbs. when completed, and is a joint venture between the US(NASA), Russia(Russian Federation Space Agency), Europe(ESA), Japan(JAXA), and Canada(CSA)

Three new crew members successfully docked yesterday with ISS, bring the total crew aboard to six. Arrival was accomplished via Soyuz TMA - 20, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last Wednesday. They will remain On ISS for five months.

Give them a "wave!"

Swan

Greetings Everyone, A Most Remarkable ISS Sighting This Coming Wednesday (esp. for those who missed ISS tonight.)

ISS will be gliding again over the VI on:

Wednesday, Dec. 22nd
Time: 6:07 PM ( use the cellphone clock for accuracy)
Run Time: 3 minutes
Path: Directly Overhead!
Arriving from the SW and Departing to the NE (SE to NE)

ISS will appear as a non-blinking, bright light as it glides across the night sky.

Give them a wave! Happy Holidays!

Swan

Wednesday, Dec. 22nd
Time: 6:07 PM ( use the cellphone clock for accuracy)
Run Time: 3 minutes
Path: Directly Overhead!
Arriving from the SW and Departing to the NE (SE to NE)

ISS will appear as a non-blinking, bright light as it glides across the night sky.

Give them a wave! Happy Holidays!

Swan

Swan, which direction will it be coming from? SW??

Good morning, Marlene,
I see my mistake: Thank you.

ISS will be coming from the "SW (southwest) and departing to the NE (northeast)". She'll be travelling directly overhead.

I hope the sky is clear tonight! See my post above for DETAILS.as to Time.
Swan

Greetings: Clarification: ISS will be remarkable for Wednesday night's sighting.

Wed., Dec 22nd
Time: 6:07 PM (use a cellphone clock)
Path: Directly Overhead
Run Time: 3 minutes
Arriving from the SW and Departing to the NE (Southwest to Northeast)

Give them a wave!

Thank you,

Swan

Good day everyone:

ISS will be making a brilliant pass over the Virgin Islands once again on:

Friday, Jan. 14th
Time: 6:51pm - (use a cellphone clock for timing)
Run Time: 4 minutes
Path: Overhead
Arriving from the NW (Northwest) and Departing to the SSE (South-southeast) (NW to SSE)

Reminder: ISS will be seen as a non-blinking, bright light gliding silently over the night sky. "Give the crew a wave!" They greatly appreciate it!

Swan

http://triggerpit.com/2010/11/22/incredible-pics-nasa-astronaut-wheelock/

See if you can pull up this link. It has Amazing photos from the ISS.

Greetings Terry,

These are truly amazing photos, especially those from ISS. Thank you so much for posting them for all of us to enjoy.

For the coming ISS Sighting this Friday night (tomorrow night ) please re-visit my posting two above this posting of mine. This sighting will be a wonder, if the clouds stay away!
Enjoy:-)

Swan

Good day everyone,

I wasn't sure if I should post this next sighting of ISS, since it is going to be the shortest visible viewing time yet among my posts; however, the Space Station might be high enough over the horizon and just long enough a run to see and enjoy.

Wednesday - Feb. 16th
Time: 7:32pm (reminder to use your cellphone clock for accuracy)
Run time: 2 minutes
Location: 50 degrees above the horizon (not quite overhead, but off to the side)
Arriving from the WSW and Departing to the N (West Southwest to North)

ISS again is seen as a non-blinking bright light gliding across the evening sky. Remember to give em' a wave!

Cheers,
Swan

Please keep posting. Fun stuff!