Artificial Satellites

Artificial Satellites are easy to see with the naked-eye especially after dusk and before dawn. The brightest ones are as bright or even brighter than the brightest stars. Some satellite sightings:

International Space Station
Space Shuttle
Iridium Flare

International Space Station - 10 years in orbit

The first component (the Russian Zarya module) of the International Space Station (ISS) was launched in late 1998. Since then numerous bits have been added.

The photo (detail) shows the ISS and the European ATV ("Jules Verne") cargo module flying in formation on 1^st April 2008 at 20.34 UT. DSLR camera lens set 27mm focal length, ISO 200.

Space Shuttle Discovery in 1991

Discovery; click image for higher resolution

The Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS 48 mission on 14^th Sep 1991 at 20.04 UT. Image taken witha 28mm camera lens using Ektachrome 100 slide film. I estimated the magnitude as -1.

Iridium Flare in 2003

Iridium; click image for higher resolution

A magnitude -6 flare from the Iridium #47 satellite. Jupiter (magnitude -2.5) is towards the bottom, while the twins Castor and Pollux in Gemini are just above the flare in cloud. Magnitude -6 is brighter than any of the planets can get. Apart from the flare these satellites are quite faint.

A 50mm camera focal-length lens. 2003 February 27 at 19.49 UT.

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