ISS photographed by members of Campaign 56 after unberthing from the station on October 4, 2018. This thin blue line that skirts our planet is a delicate and much needed environment
Image: NASA / Roscosmos
a ISS – International Space Station (or International Space Station) is an artificial satellite of the Earth. With a speed close to 28000 km / h, which gives 28000 / 3.6 = 7777 m / s or about 7.8 km / s, it orbits our planet at an average altitude of 400 km. Under these conditions, the space station completes approximately one Earth tour every 92 minutes, doing about 16 Earth tours a day.
White ISS Orbiting our planet, the Earth itself revolves around itself. Because it has an inclined orbit with respect to the equator, at every turn of which our planet has its entire station, it ends up passing through a different region of the terrestrial world that is constantly rotating.
So, now and then, ISS It can pass over us, here in Brazil. But the question I am asked is, can you see the space station passing without optical devices, that is, with the naked eye? the answer is yes. But this is possible only in “special” situations. And you also have to know where to look and what to look for. ISS.
To begin, keep in mind that in the space station (see image at the top), giant solar panels are counted, more or less the size of the official area Football. Therefore, seen from a distance of 400 km, it would be just a spec. But, fortunately for us, with many metal parts, ISS Reflects sunlight very well. Therefore, the point is to be very bright to the point of being able to see from a distance, as long as the darkness is opposite with the sky.
passes by ISS They are not visible with daylight. But in the evening or late evening the darkness passes against the sky and when the station can receive direct sunlight and shine bright, they can be seen with the naked eye from here on the surface of the planet. See in the pictures below, how ISS Is seen with the naked eye. It looks like a very shining star, but is moving against the stellar stars in the background sky.
The dazzling little dot with the presence of a star, but which moves quickly in the sky, is the ISS.
Picture: Dulidio Brees Jr. / Physics in the Vein
In the image above, I captured ISS On November 19, 2016, Sao Jolo da Boa Vista, over the interior of São Paulo, passing over my city, in a quick click that recorded a specific position of the station, i.e. a very bright sky already in the evening place. . In the image below, was also done in my city here on January 15, 2017, in another technique, I left the camera shutter open for several seconds, leaving a light mark on the camera’s sensor, while The space station was moving in the sky. In both captures the camera was fixed on a tripod.
Bright spec, when the camera is open for a few seconds with the shutter on, leaves a luminous mark in the photo
Picture: Dulidio Brees Jr. / Physics in the Vein
You can see the ISS passing over Brazil today! Follow the “recipe” to make no mistake!
Today, May 11, 2021, The ISS Will pass through Brazil in the evening. Depending on your latitude / longitude, it may be more or less in the sky and time may vary slightly. Here in my city the ticket starts at 18h10min58.
Were you keen on observing? Below I give the “recipe”.
There are many computer programs, websites, and even applications. Cell All do “calculations” for us using only geolocation data on PCs and on both smart Fone, In general, is obtained automatically by the operating system.
I have tested many apps and websites. Currently, I have used the site to its fullest. Listens up. I also use a downloadable version of Heavens Above for Android phones that can be downloaded That’s why.
Home Site Site Havens Up
Picture: Site Print
It is possible to create an account and define latitude / longitude data on Heaven’s website from where you will observe the sky. Registration is very easy and the site is very friendly. Then, with your personal account already logged in, select the option “10-Day Forecast for Satellites of Special Interest – ISS – International Space Station” from the “Satellite” menu. And website, if there are visible routes from ISS For the next few days in your locality, it automatically creates a table with observational data. See below, the generated table for my location.
Table with ISS route forecast to appear in my city / region in next 10 days
Picture: Site Print
For each date (pass), by clicking on the data in the table (which are links), the site automatically shows an image, simulating the apparent trajectory. ISS In your local sky. You can choose the size in pixels that will be in this image. See below, the image generated by the website for the passage of ISS Today, Tuesday, May 11, 2021, for my city / region.
Exemplary trajectory of ISS route on my city / region today (11 / May / 2021)
Picture: Site Print
To understand the apparent trajectory of the ISS, you have to use the north, south, east, and west cardinal points. You can use a compass or your cell phone. But the easiest tip is:
- Horizontally drawn open arms;
- Point your right arm towards the rising sun, eastward.
- North will be in front of you, south on your back, east on your right and west on your left. This is simple!
Also note that just below the apparent local trajectory ISSThe site also creates a table with important data which helps us a lot in observation. See this table in the print below.
Table with observational data by route
Picture: Site Print
Take note of the table above and which gives the details of ISS route in my city / region today (11 / May / 2021) which you can know with the accuracy of seconds. ISS “Birth” is, that is, the precise time from which it can be seen. The table also shows us the time at which ISS It will climb into the sky 10 degrees above the horizon. It also reaches maximum height (in degrees) ISS And the exact moment when it happens. The higher the height in degrees, the higher the sky in the sky ISS Will be eliminated. In descent, the table tells us when ISS It will again be 10 degrees above the horizon. And finally, when it is set, that is, when it is no longer visible.
From the trajectory you really know at which place the space station will be “born”, that is, it will start to appear. And from the table you know the exact time that this will happen. That way, knowing where and when to look is not a mistake! Soon you will see a very bright spot, which moves rapidly in the sky and, in a few minutes, passes from one horizon to another, passing by you. It is always a fun experience!
Do you understand the idea of how the site works and how to use the data it generates?
Create a personal account. And follow the path of ISS In my place using my suggestions. I guarantee that you will not spend more than 10 minutes. And, when you have an account, generating new simulations will be very practical and very fast. Try it!
If you install Applications On cell phones, you can go out in the field with it in hand and follow the trajectory, through the device screen ISS In real time and with animation, which is very interesting!
Inspect one ISS. Call friends, family, a crowd for this different astronaut event. Then leave a comment here about how your observation experience was. Joint?
All we need to say is clear: the sky must be clear to see you ISS It passes very high (400 km) and is, therefore, possible and is atop inconvenient local clouds which may disturb the observations.
And, if you like the theme ISS, I leave here a link to posts from Physics in the Vein in which I have dealt with interesting aspects related to the International Space Station:
good heaven! Good comments! Have a nice ride with the ISS!
Got a hug from the professor. Dulcidio. And physics in the vein!
