Image valid only after 6 PM Wednesday

Sorry for the short notice. I forgot this was going to happen. At 1804 hours (after 6 PM) the International Space Station (ISS) will appear for 4 minutes crossing South to East as high as 22 degrees above the horizon. At about 1820, if conditions in Africa are right, the Space Shuttle will be seen in the south as it climbs to catch the ISS.

Hope you can see both.

I checked about 8 minutes too late, nothing recognizable. But here is an IotD extra: a beautiful contrail from the takeoff.

Originally posted by Tony Shepps
I checked about 8 minutes too late, nothing recognizable. But here is an IotD extra: a beautiful contrail from the takeoff.

I saw ISS after 1804. At about 1808:30, it disappeared behind low horizon clouds at about the same height as the moon. Never saw the Space Shuttle - maybe clouds were too heavy on the horizon. However ISS was about as bright as the brighter stars. The new Destiny will increase ISS brightness. The Space Shuttle should also make it easier to see. Here are Philly area viewing times from NASA:
Sun Feb 11 at 06:22 PM for 2 minutes from 24 degrees above NNW to 10 degrees above NNE.
Mon Feb 12 at 06:53 PM 1 minute from 12 degrees above NNW to 10 degrees above N.
Wed Feb 14 at 06:21 PM 2 minutes from 11 degrees above NNW to 10 degrees above N.

I watched the Space Shuttle launch from my vantage point in South Florida.

All I saw was the contrail and a dot of light at the top but since I was many miles away that's pretty good considering.

Some day I'll have to go up to Kennedy Space Center and watch the thing from close up. I did that once when I was very young but I don't really remember it anymore.

Brian