Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

See the Space Shuttle tonight

  • 15-07-2009 03:59PM
    #1
    bleg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,847 ✭✭✭


    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0715/breaking61.htm


    The space shuttle Endeavour, with seven astronauts on board, will be visible in Ireland tonight.

    The shuttle will be visible as a brilliant “star” when it crosses Ireland at about 11.21pm tonight, 18 minutes after it blasts off from Florida.

    “We are predicting the best time to watch will be 11.21pm tonight, but people should watch for 10 minutes around this time as the launch time can be changed by NASA at the last minute” said David Moore of Astronomy Ireland.

    “The shuttle is an incredible sight when it flies over, but what makes this event so incredibly rare, is that the giant fuel tank will be right next to the shuttle in the sky and will look distinctly orange.”

    “This has only been seen once before from Ireland in the 28 year history of shuttle launches so we want everyone to stay up and watch it,” he added.

    The shuttle is heading for the International Space Station which will also be visible from Ireland on Thursday and Friday nights. Built at a cost of €100 billion, it is up to 1000 times brighter than the average star.


«1345678

Comments

  • #2
    My name is URL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,626 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    Awesome.

    I managed to get a glimpse of the ISS as it passed over a couple of weeks ago.

    Hopefully the sky will be clear again


  • #3
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Thats if it gets off the pad at all (see astronomy forum)


  • #4
    murfie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 768 ✭✭✭murfie


    This mission has been delayed over a month, each time they schedule it its called off due to weather. There was a hydrogen leak originally that stopped it. I cant imagine how the astronauts are handling this as they have to wait in containment!!! catch up on some reading

    Hopefully this will take off today! I wouldnt hold my breath!


  • #5
    jumpguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,962 ✭✭✭jumpguy


    It could be scrubbed again, as it has been twice the past week (due to bad weather). Visit the astronomy forum for more information!

    A good idea is the watch NASA TV during the launch. You'll be able to watch the shuttle close up on TV as you watch it in the sky. Cool stuff. Here's hoping the weather keeps clear. :)


  • #6
    shenanigans1982
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭shenanigans1982


    mike65 wrote: »
    Thats if it gets off the pad at all (see astronomy forum)

    Lightning never strikes twice.;)


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Narsil
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭Narsil


    Where in the sky should we look for it? Thanks :)


  • #8
    Leixlip_Red
    Closed Accounts Posts: 210 ✭✭Leixlip_Red


    Narsil wrote: »
    Where in the sky should we look for it? Thanks :)

    I'd reccomend looking up :D

    *gets coat*


  • #9
    mathie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,103 ✭✭✭mathie


    Narsil wrote: »
    Where in the sky should we look for it? Thanks :)

    Upwardsly.

    It's a technical term. I don't expect you to understand.


  • #10
    nedd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭nedd


    Narsil wrote: »
    Where in the sky should we look for it? Thanks :)

    good point


  • #11
    Narsil
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭Narsil


    Ah dammit! Should have seen that coming :rolleyes:


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    murfie wrote: »
    This mission has been delayed over a month, each time they schedule it its called off due to weather.
    It's lovely and sunny outside now though so it should be fine tonight.


  • #13
    IvySlayer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,194 ✭✭✭✭IvySlayer


    Thanks for the heads up :D


  • #14
    Quint
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,407 ✭✭✭Quint


    Narsil wrote: »
    Where in the sky should we look for it? Thanks :)

    must be in the west/south west direction if it's blasting off from florida


  • #15
    Linguo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,127 ✭✭✭Linguo


    It is, check out the astronomy forum for more info!


  • #16
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,424 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    Leixlip_Red wrote: »
    I'd reccomend looking up :D

    *gets coat*

    How about towards East / South / North / West?

    - Drav!


  • #17
    Hal1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Hal1


    Nasa Tv, ye can see it on the launch pad. Few clouds about the space centre that might threaten the launch for today (i.e. thunderstorms). Astromony forum here.


  • #18
    jumpguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,962 ✭✭✭jumpguy


    The shuttle should be heading from West to East and follow the same track as the ISS. So keep looking around the Westerly side of the sky and you should see it. The ISS will be passing at about 22:05 and 23:40 tonight, so get a look at that while your out. Head over to www.heavens-above.com and enter your co-ordinates to get your ISS pass times. If you see the 22:05 pass, it'll give you an idea of how the shuttle is gonna go!


  • #19
    Flying Abruptly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 911 ✭✭✭Flying Abruptly


    Nasa are only giving a 60% chance of favourable weather conditions for take-off tonight
    http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html


  • #20
    Gone Drinking
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,814 ✭✭✭Gone Drinking


    In all my years in this country, I've stood out a few times in hope of seeing one of these things that you find RTE and the media telling us to watch out for.. and guess what?

    I've always been disappointed.

    Good oul rainy, cloudy, can't see siht Ireland.


  • #21
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    mike65 wrote: »
    Thats if it gets off the pad at all (see astronomy forum)
    jumpguy wrote: »
    Visit the astronomy forum for more information!
    Linguo wrote: »
    It is, check out the astronomy forum for more info!

    You folks must be desperate for company over in the astronomy forum.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    n.catenthusiast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 286 ✭✭n.catenthusiast


    ScumLord wrote: »
    It's lovely and sunny outside now though so it should be fine tonight.

    True but weather in FLorida may also be a factor. ;)


  • #23
    jumpguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,962 ✭✭✭jumpguy


    MagicMarker wrote: »
    You folks must be desperate for company over in the astronomy forum.
    Well, no, it's just these questions have been answered about 10 times over there, and there is a wealth of other useful information if anyone bothered to look (like where in the sky to see it, etc). It's like just repeating the 2 threads on this already over there.


  • #24
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Flying Abruptly wrote: »
    Nasa are only giving a 60% chance of favourable weather conditions for take-off tonight
    http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
    Those are great odds, in the movies they often have well below 50% and they're always fine.
    n.catenthusiast wrote: »
    True but weather in FLorida may also be a factor. ;)
    Oh right, but give nasa a buzz and tell them we're sound anyway.


  • #25
    Dave!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,856 ✭✭✭✭Dave!


    Hi all,

    Space Shuttle Visible Tonight 15/07/09


    The Space Shuttel Endeavour ( STS-127 ) will be visible tonight if the scheduled launch due at 23.03PM Irish time goes ahead, she will pass over Ireland 18 minutes later at 23:21PM and will be a very bright star moving very fast also visible will be the two EF Booster tanks following behind the shuttle as they will have jettisoned from the Shuttle a few minutes earlier.


    The launch itself will be shown on Sky News on TV, but i suggest you get out to see her overhead after so be outside from 23:18PM onwards if it's a clear sky as this will be a rare opportunity to see the Booster Jets behind the Shuttle herself, this is not to be missed. She will approach from a SW Direction so look towards Galway.


    ENJOY!


  • #26
    pablodunlop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 959 ✭✭✭pablodunlop


    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/


  • #27
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,057 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    What direction should we look towards?

    Er, never mind...


  • #28
    omahaid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,497 ✭✭✭omahaid


    What are my chances of this?

    http://www.marcblee.org/images/10shuttle_boats.jpg

    I'll be disappointed methinks :(


  • #29
    Gran Hermano
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,329 ✭✭✭Gran Hermano


    Meh, bunch of spacers


  • #30
    Sharpshooter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,859 ✭✭✭✭Sharpshooter


    Dave! wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Space Shuttle Visible Tonight 15/07/09


    The Space Shuttel Endeavour ( STS-127 ) will be visible tonight if the scheduled launch due at 23.03PM Irish time goes ahead, she will pass over Ireland 18 minutes later at 23:21PM and will be a very bright star moving very fast also visible will be the two EF Booster tanks following behind the shuttle as they will have jettisoned from the Shuttle a few minutes earlier.


    The launch itself will be shown on Sky News on TV, but i suggest you get out to see her overhead after so be outside from 23:18PM onwards if it's a clear sky as this will be a rare opportunity to see the Booster Jets behind the Shuttle herself, this is not to be missed. She will approach from a SW Direction so look towards Galway.


    ENJOY!
    Merged.:)


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    Whosbetter?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭Whosbetter?


    Thanks for the reminder.

    I shall endeavor to see that.


Advertisement
Advertisement