Shuttle Launch Visible from Ireland Tonight

gary82

Just heard that we can see this so delighted about the delay!

So am I right with this?...

The launch is at 18.51EDT, which is 22:51GMT, so 23.51 now in the summer?

And according to this site which someone linked earlier, it'll be viewable from Galway 8 minutes later at 22:59GMT, so 23.59 summer time for 5minutes.

Time to dust off the tripod and hope the clouds pass! Will post photos if it clears...

Thargor

Would anyone mind just confirming if thats true please^^^

Clear skies again in Galway.

I'll be watching from 23:55 to 00:05, anyway (just to make sure).

Hopefully the weather keeps clear and the launch isn't delayed again.

Thargor

Why does the countdown say 1 hour to go though?

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/cdt/

A few other places Ive seen it down as 11pm aswell

Thargor

Thargor wrote: »

Why does the countdown say 1 hour to go though?

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/cdt/

A few other places Ive seen it down as 11pm aswell

Is that taking account of daylight savings?

Ostrom

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

Is that taking account of daylight savings?

Dont think so, launch blog says one hour to go

efla

efla wrote: »

Dont think so, launch blog says one hour to go

Seems to say it's nearly two hours away here. Were you looking it up on an official blog?

Edit: Sorry, think I might have misunderstood you.

Thargor

Then if you click on the other clock on that page it says 47 minutes away now, Im going to trust the launch blog guy as he said T minus one hour a few minutes ago, how long does it take to get over Ireland and how high will it be in the sky does anyone know? I need to get up on the roof if its low on the horizon.

Ostrom

Looking at this

Says T-54 with 6:51 EDT launch

(1:54 with holding times)

@Thargor

It's pretty confusing isn't it? I'm guessing one is taking account of DL savings, while the other isn't.

I'll be watching this anyway, it even says that it's T- 39 min on the actual clock in the video, too.

@Thargor: I think it takes about 7/8 minutes to come into view in Ireland. And it'll go relatively high above the horizon, too; perhaps 30-45 degrees (I think).

Ostrom

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

It's pretty confusing isn't it? I'm guessing one is taking account of DL savings, while the other isn't.

I'll be watching this anyway, it even says that it's T- 39 min on the actual clock in the video, too.

@Thargor: I think it takes about 7/8 minutes to come into view in Ireland. And it'll go relatively high above the horizon, too; perhaps 30-45 degrees (I think).

Theres a 45 minute hold scheduled for final polling, and another 10 minute at T-20 and T-9, so thats the extra 55 minutes

efla

efla wrote: »

Theres a 45 minute hold scheduled for final polling, and another 10 minute at T-20 and T-9, so thats the extra 55 minutes

Ah ok, thanks.

I don't particularly trust the clocks they've up. I think I'll just watch NASA TV and when I see the launch I'll know for sure.:pac:

Thargor

Ah right, I see now, thanks people.

Calibos

It'll be visible 18 minutes after Launch not 8 afaik. Looks like the weather is going to play ball on the far side of the Atlantic. Nasa is optimistic of a launch tonight. Question is whether it will play ball for us here. The midlands and Connaught looks like they will get lucky but its touch and go for the rest of us. Metcheck forecasts only 6% clouds for me in Bray. However The UK metoffice Sat images show a big chunk of cloud over the east coast at the moment. I am hoping the clear area just arriving at the coast off Waterford and Wexford will track up the east coast in time for me.

Ostrom

Calibos wrote: »

It'll be visible 18 minutes after Launch not 8 afaik. Looks like the weather is going to play ball on the far side of the Atlantic. Nasa is optimistic of a launch tonight. Question is whether it will play ball for us here. The midlands and Connaught looks like they will get lucky but its touch and go for the rest of us. Metcheck forecasts only 6% clouds for me in Bray. However The UK metoffice Sat images show a big chunk of cloud over the east coast at the moment. I am hoping the clear area just arriving at the coast off Waterford and Wexford will track up the east coast in time for me.

Clear skies to the horizon in Maynooth for now. Will Endeavour be visible during the second ISS pass at 00:26 or is does it take longer to enter orbit?

Calibos

efla wrote: »

Clear skies to the horizon in Maynooth for now. Will Endeavour be visible during the second ISS pass at 00:26 or is does it take longer to enter orbit?

No. Assuming Launch at 11:51pm our time + 18 minutes to get from Florida to here, we should see it in our skies at approx 12:09am. So we'll see the Shuttle about 15 minutes before the ISS.

Ostrom

Calibos wrote: »

No. Assuming Launch at 11:51pm our time + 18 minutes to get from Florida to here, we should see it in our skies at approx 12:09am. So we'll see the Shuttle about 15 minutes before the ISS.

How about later passes, orbit lasts 18 hours right?

Calibos

efla wrote: »

How about later passes, orbit lasts 18 hours right?

No more passes till tomorrow night after the 12:25 one according to Heavens Above.

The times for tomorrow night, if anybody's interested, are 23:15:30 (start) - 23:18:25 (max. alt.) - 23:21:19 (end).

The max. magnitude will be ~ -3.3 (brighter than tonight).

caislean6

Have I missed it?!

squonk

What path will the shuttle take? Presume it's W-E but any idea how high inthe sky to look at just yet?

caislean6

caislean6 wrote: »

Have I missed it?!

Nope, you haven't.

Time to look out for the Shuttle: 00:07 - 00:12.
For the ISS: 00:25 - 00:31.

It'd be great if a forum mod could put the times in an announcement at the top of the forum so people could see?

Ostrom

Calibos wrote: »

No more passes till tomorrow night after the 12:25 one according to Heavens Above.

It shouldn't have docked before the 23:15 pass though?

jumpguy

caislean6 wrote: »

Have I missed it?!

No.


Viewing conditions in the south-west are very poor ATM. Overcast cloud. Unless it clears up in 30 minutes or so there's no hope

Ostrom

Link to nasa tv

Calibos

efla wrote: »

It shouldn't have docked before the 23:15 pass though?

It'll take a few days to catch up with the ISS believe it or not.

zuroph

according to sky, 40% chance of good weather for launch.

Calibos

Grrggghh!!:mad:

Sat image just updated. Doesn't look like the clearish patch will make it to Wicklow in time. Looking good for Waterford and Wexford though.

Calibos

Nice to see 50 people browsing the forum at the one time though!

lord lucan

Calibos wrote: »

It'll take a few days to catch up with the ISS believe it or not.

Due to dock wednesday.

Ostrom

Still no-go, new northern storm seems to have popped out

Ricky91t

Terrible cloud here again in Kerry,And weather looks OK in FL for launch!


30 mins if it goes ahead?

Edit:Now that they've changed cameras weather not looking good!

The sky is lovely and clear here in Galway, anyway. Let's hope it'll hold out.

Conor108

sorry but just so Im clear:

Shuttle launch at 11:51pm
We'll be able to see it from 00:07 - 00:12 and we can see the ISS from 00:25 - 00:31?

Is that right?

AntoSRFC

So whats the story then? We wont be able to see it now becuase of the ****e weather?

kleefarr

What's the T- time lads?

Conor108

26 mins

NASA

kleefarr

Thanks. I'll just pop outside to see if the sky looks any good. West direction right?

The weather doesn't look too good on NASA TV...

mike65

Semi clear skies overhead here (clear in the part of the sky needed in the next hour)

jumpguy

Thunder storms in the north...I think they're evaluating if they'll move away fast enough to make an emergency Return To Launch Site manuevre safe, if need be. T-9 minutes and holding.

maggie797

raining in limerick / tipperary and lot of cloud here.

8-10

There's clear enough sky south but I don't think it's gonna make it up here. Nasa tv coverage is cool though. I'm glad we get to see the live launch.

Ostrom

Still holding, looks like they may miss the window

jumpguy

I doubt they're gonna launch tonight...Weather seems unpredictable, with storms in the north. Thank goodness, it'd be impossible to see anything where I am. Although judging by the weather forecast tomorrow will be poor too.

mike65

Miami in the summer eh?

kleefarr

Just a few patchy clouds here in Kilkenny.

Calibos

Sorry for the Lads in Galway and The south east but I am glad its looking like being scrubbed again cause its cloudy for me in Wicklow and the forecast is better for tomorrow night. Third times a charm right!!

Ricky91t

Doesn't sound like it's going ahead.

Its So Easy

8-10 wrote: »

There's clear enough sky south but I don't think it's gonna make it up here. Nasa tv coverage is cool though. I'm glad we get to see the live launch.

I love watching the nasa coverage. Doesn't sound very promising though from what they are saying. And to think I just checked nasa.gov to see the launch I assumed had happened last night.