Interesting space station/shuttle/ATV pass tonight

[Morris Jones]

We should have a very unusual pass of three bright artificial satellites 
tonight, which I certainly plan to look for.

All three will enter the sky from the southwest and cross toward the 
east.  Start looking at about 8:00 p.m. to the left of where the sun set 
an hour before.  At their peak altitude they'll be in the south east. 
By 8:10 they'll be past.

First up will be the ATV (the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer 
Vehicle) on its way to the ISS. It will be its highest in the sky at 
about 8:04.

Following that, and brightest, will be the International Space Station, 
at peak altitude at 8:08.

Only a few seconds behind, and just as bright, is space shuttle 
Endeavour, recently undocked from the station and on its way to a 
landing tomorrow.

These behave very differently from airplanes.  They'll look like very 
bright moving stars.  If it blinks, shows a red light, or stays close to 
the horizon, it's an airplane, not a satellite.

The station currently has a permanent crew of three aboard, and the 
shuttle is returning with seven astronauts.

For custom predictions of visible satellite passes at your location 
(other than Los Angeles / Pasadena) visit here:
http://www.heavens-above.com

Cheers,
Mojo
-- 
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org