Shuttle Launch

Hello, I'm new to this forum... I have a question I hope someone can answer for me... I heard during the week that 18 minutes after the shuttle launches this evening, it will pass over Ireland and will be visible...

Is this true? If so, what part of the sky should I be looking in?

Thanks!

Look very low in the south. At that time discovery will not yet have reached orbit and will have just jettisoned its external fuel tank. You need to be somewhere with a clear unobstructed view to the south. What you might see is a starlike object moving from right to left (west to east). Don't expect any great fireworks show, just a starlike object moving about the same speed as an airplane. It's very difficult but binoculars will help a lot.

You have a better chance to see discovery tomorrow night. See www.heavens-above.com for more details once the details of discoverys orbit are clear (tomorrow). You will get the exact time to see it.

Thanks for the info and link!!

Shane...

Calsky has this for discovery for tonight for me (Dalkey. Dublin):

Appears 22h18m59s 2.9mag az:270.3° W horizon
Culmination 22h22m06s -2.1mag az:190.3° S h:32.7°
distance: 303.6km height above Earth: 169.0km elevation of sun: -5°
Disappears 22h24m08s 0.2mag az:117.0° ESE h:6.6°

Incredible, the most amazing sight I've ever witnessed, discovery and ext fuel tank 'blazing' across the sky! I can't beleive how bright it was shuttle maybe -3, -4 fuel tank, -2, -3. The fuel tank was also obviously red! I am absolutely gobsmacked. ..... I swung the scope over and began recording I have no idea if I caught anything at all, but you never know! Bothe were clearly separated by around 1.5 - 2 degrees with the fuel tank below discovery.

I'm still shaking!!

Saw this too from Kerry, a beautiful sight and the colour of the tank was striking. It was amazing how high they were in the sky and how bright they were. Thought for a second about running to get the camera but just stood there in awe instead...


Also just saw the ISS followed some minutes later by the second pass of the shuttle, now much lower in the south.