J-Track anyone?

[dr wogz]

I found this a few years ago, and pop in every once in a while. It has changed somewhat over the years, but is basically the same..

It's a 'real time' satalite tracking program, and runs a cute javascript to show earth, with all teh 'man made' satalites in orbit, updated every second (or fraction there-of). Also shows orbital path in relation to our blue marble..

Great for school kids,

https://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/JTrack/

it' s amazing how many there are up there!!!

 

[Elapid]

have you seen the Iridium satellite flares?
https://satobs.org/iridium.html
i haven't yet, but they are supposed to be VERY bright and visible in daylight!

 

[kenobi65]

Originally posted by Elapid
have you seen the Iridium satellite flares?
https://satobs.org/iridium.html
i haven't yet, but they are supposed to be VERY bright and visible in daylight!

We were watching polar-orbiting satellites at a friend's house in upstate NY one night last week, when one of them got *very* bright for a few seconds. Wonder if that's what we saw.

 

[Rocketman248]

That site is really cool! I like how you can get info on a specific sat.

BTW. Where in Upstate NY did you go? I'm from the Scotia/Schenectady area.

 

[gerbs4me]

thats really cool
is it possible to see ISS traveling across the night sky? I think it can been seen

 

[Stymye]

is it possible to see ISS traveling across the night sky? I think it can been se

yes ..with clear sky and knowing when and where to look..It's gone within a matter of minutes..it's small but very bright

 

[kenobi65]

Originally posted by Rocketman248
BTW. Where in Upstate NY did you go? I'm from the Scotia/Schenectady area.

Endwell (just west of Binghamton); we were visiting some friends who live there. I've been up to Albany once, which is much closer to your neck of the woods. Very pretty scenery in that area -- far more interesting than the glacier-flattened terrain here.

 

[kenobi65]

Originally posted by stymye
yes ..with clear sky and knowing when and where to look..It's gone within a matter of minutes..it's small but very bright

When I was just a yoot, I remember going out into the yard with my folks late one night to watch Skylab pass over us. I think that was the first time I ever saw something like that, and it was just so cool.

 

[dr wogz]

We were camping the other week-end, and around the campfire my wife looked up: "Oooh honney, a shooting star!! wait.. That's not right... Honney, is that a shooting star?! Wait, it's a plane, right?" Sure enough, one satalite streaking across the sky. And then another in a different direction.. She was 'satalite hunting' all night, thinking this was some of the coolest stuff to see in the night sky.

But as we all know, you can't see this in the city. Too much light pollution.

 

[kenobi65]

Originally posted by Dr Wogz
But as we all know, you can't see this in the city. Too much light pollution.

Indeed...that's why I love clear nights when I travel away from Chicago. It's a reminder that there are more than 2 dozen stars in the sky. ;-)