Thursday, November 26, 2009

ISS and STS-129

Heavens-above.com predicted the ISS to be visible at magnitude -1.6 at 18:37:11 local time (UTC +1) at 10 deg altitude. I took the opportunity and was presented by the magnificent sight of the ISS passing through Hercules, Ophiuchus and Aquila, followed at a distance of about 10 degrees by the fainter STS-129 , the space shuttle Atlantis, at magnitude 0.4. The two craft entered the Earth's shadow and disappeared as they approached Jupiter. The sight of the two craft orbiting the Earth in close formation in the evening sky was awesome.