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Topic History of: A beautiful new moon and a bright star Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
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Danielle
BR wrote: Pretty but not bright
The lego-like/spindly ISS is not, in my view, pretty - nor was it meant to be; functionality was the key factor for its short life. But, it is now (as most observatories have confirmed) the brightest in the night sky - only after the moon.
BR
ISS on Stargazing tonight. Pretty but not bright/
Danielle
BR wrote: ......and that was before the ISS was in this orbit
Incorrect. The ISS is only 're-boosted' every few months and has now had the same orbit since September 2010.
Every day it decays steadily and the re-boosting is required to stop it burning up in the earth's atmosphere. Satellites further away do not require this and can have orbits altered more easily; however, access to the ISS (by humans) is much easier because of its proximity to earth.
Around the corner - in real terms!
BR
So it is
a. the ISS
b. Venus
c. A large Satellite
Take you pick JK
If it flashes and spins then it is none of the above I might add. The shape shifting "star" was around in early December and many have reported seeing it.......and that was before the ISS was in this orbit and before Venus was in the ascendant.
Stargazing on BBC has been good tonight and enjoy the eclipse tomorrow morning if you can see it.
Roge
Danielle wrote:
International Space Station (ISS) - the second brightest (after the moon) in the night and early morning skies
This is true Danielle
Apart from the solar panels, the reason why its so bright (I can see it now in Sussex) is that its only c200 miles from here