Space Shuttle Visible from Naked Eye

I gotta check this out tonight.

We took mom's car (how sad it's the only compass I had) to an open field and checked the direction when we parked. I then roughly calculated where it would start and just kinda guessed on the angle and started watching.

At first, we found a few airplanes that we thought were it, but noticed they blinked.

Then we saw one just "appear" in the general start area and guessed that was it. It was like a bright start and cruising pretty good across the sky. Then it just disappeared.

It was really much easier to find than I expected it to be.

-Rob

I saw an "iridium flare" a year or so ago which is apparently a reflection from an iridium satelite...and yes it was unmistakable. Very bright and shortlived. My plan is pretty much like everyone else...look in the general direction and we'll surely see it.

By chance, several years back (it must have been about '02) I looked out the window of the car one night as a passenger and saw what I later found out was a defunct Russian space station reentering the atmosphere and burning up. THAT...was impressive.

Clem

Just saw it. Tip to those who are looking for it.

Look for a bright thing going at the speed of a plane. The tell tale is that it doesn't have any blinking lights. I first thought it was a low level plane and dismissed it.

I saw it last night cool as hell gonna watch for it again here in a few.

Drat. The elevation from Charleston last night was only about 10 degrees above the horizon, too many trees around. I'm going to keep an eye on the schedule.

Thanks to the canoe for dredging up a thread that nearly predates me.

I was wondering... even clicked the link before noticing the dates.

Isn't the shuttle program completely wrapped up and no longer operating now?

Grtechguy said:

I was wondering... even clicked the link before noticing the dates.

Isn't the shuttle program completely wrapped up and no longer operating now?

All shuttles are in museums now. Last flight was by Atlantis in July 2011, 12 years ago.

They're now museum pieces, so they're definitely visible to the naked eye.

Yo, mang!  Put some clothes on!