ISS with the naked eye.

[WOWZY]

Any of you guys been watching the ISS streak across the sky?



I have been keeping track of it's visibility for a few months now and it's amazing to be able to watch it. It's even more amazing with a set of high power binoculars, because you can see the individual components. The times of visibility are usually right after dusk and before dawn because it has to use the reflection of the sun to make it visible.



You can keep track of sightings in your area every month by going here: http://www.space.com/



Then in the upperleft corner of the page click on "Missions/Launches". Scroll down 1/2 page and click on "SkyWatch" 1. 3 which is a link.



Then scroll down 3/4 of the page and click on "ISS"



Then scroll down and click on "Country Search" then click USA and enter your city and state. If your city is not recognized, you can go back a page and below the "Country Search" you can find the closest city to your location use its coordinants by clicking on "List of Cities Served".



I know I could've just given you a direct link to the cities page, but if you ever lost the link, you'd have a hard time finding it from the space.com home page.



You should see a page like this when you get done:





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The ISS will look like a star moving pretty quickly across the sky and will disappear when it runs out of the sunlight. Also don't wait till you spot it to send the kids and the wife in to find your binoculars. Have them ready by your side!!

 

[klenger]

I once watch the MIR space station and the space shuttle. They had just separated, and one followed the other by about 2 seconds as they traveled the sky. Really cool.



Ken

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Ham Radio on the ISS

I have been into satellite tracking (MIR and ISS)

for about 5 years now. I have heard conversations

from MIR on 143. 635MHZ (Russian language), they

do not encrypt their communications like NASA does

and I've heard US astronauts on the ISS talking to

ham radio enthusiats (most astronauts are ham

licensed, gives them something to do while they

are on the station for months at a time). Here is

a link to check out: Ham radio stations heard via ISS

Check out the callsign in the area of Houston TX.



The data frequency (sometimes voice) is 145. 800mhz

so listening with a scanner to that frequency,

when the ISS makes a visible pass you can hear it.



-Chris