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Spectacular visible pass with ISS flying 'into' the rising full moon.

ZS6TW – December 4, 2006 – 20:37

Hi,
To all ISS Lunatics: (punn intended)
This evening I heard packet on freq, realized ISS would be visable at that time of night, just after sunset and went out to have a look. Saw the ISS very bright in the sky....but this pass was 'out of the ordinary' in that (from my location) the orbital pathtook it right 'into' a rising full moon, which was at 8 degrees.
ISS appeared right on target, but went into shadow moments before 'hitting' the moon.
So I came inside and checked out Calsky. Turns out to be a close shave...

73s, Keith, zs6tw, kg44bd

From Calsky:
Ascending Orbit. Earth revolutions since launch: 46005.1
Appeared 19h16m54s 4.6m az:215.9d SW
Transit 19h21m41s -1.6m az:132.9d SE h:48.3d dist:438.7km alt:335.3km
Disappeared 19h24m09s 0.1m az: 57.3d ENE h:11.8d

Close to Moon. Separation=0.767° Position Angle=247.3°
Angular Velocity=7.4'/s
Angular diameter=13.6" size=73.0m x 44.5m x 27.5m
Satellite at Azimuth= 54.8° NE Altitude= 8.3° Distance=1362.4 km (in shadow)
Satellite apparently moves to clock-face direction 7:05 o'clock

Observing ISS
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Hello Keith

Derk – December 10, 2006 – 10:34

Very nice when that rare occasion happens, but.... there actually is a but...
I also got very excited a couple of times seeing iss moving towards the moon. I thought that I would be able to see ISS for a short period of time in black contour as it would cross the moon.
Well, today I am not hoping to witness this event at all, because... I saw a wonderfull picture of ISS and Shuttle crossing the surface of the sun. Well, there I learned that the visible dish of the sun is aproximately 200 times larger than ISS.. so, knowing the visible diameter of the moon is the same... we would never be able to see ISS without a telescope crossing the moons surface.

Best regards from Holland

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Re: Spectacular visible pass with ISS flying 'into' the rising f

Amm1UK – December 5, 2006 – 11:36
ZS6TW wrote:

Hi,
So I came inside and checked out Calsky.

I've never heard of "Calsky" so I checked it out. Calsky let you register for free and then, after giving you the reasons why, request you to make a donation (mental cruelty) and what's more, after a couple of hours the Session Manager stops you from making any further inquiries. The ironic thing is, they want you to visit them as often as possible. I don't like pressure like that!

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