[SGVLUG] OT: space station visible this weekend and lunar eclipse on the 20th

[Claude Felizardo]

Please excuse the off topic posting but I forgot to mention this at
last night's meeting and I know it's been of some interest to some...

The space station (and shuttle) will be visible in the So Cal area
Saturday night, 2/16 and Monday night, 2/18.

Sat:  16 Feb  -2.4   18:41:12 10 NW   18:44:01 78 SW   18:45:33 24 SE
Mon: 18 Feb  -2.4   17:47:02 10	NW   17:49:51 86 NE   17:52:39 10 SE

so for Saturday, it becomes visible at 6:41 at ten degrees above the
horizon in the north west, max altitude of 78 degrees at 6:44 in the
south west and enters earth's shadow about 6:45 in the south east.
Normally the space station is around magnitude -2 but with the added
solar panels and with the space station docked, it will be slightly
brighter.  For comparison, the brightest star (Sirius) is about -1.4,
Venus can be -4 and the full moon is -12

http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=34.148&lng=-118.144&loc=Pasadena&alt=245&tz=PST

and don't forget to check for Iridium flares in your area.  Brightness
is very dependent on your location so it's best to look up your
immediate area.  You don't have to register to use the site but you
can bookmark once you find your location.

Finally, there's going to be a total eclipse of the moon on the 20th,
from 7 to 7:50 pm, partial ending at 9.  Try to catch it as the next
total lunar eclipse in the US won't be until 2010!

Links for local viewing and to sky and telescope website with detailed
summary...

http://www.otastro.org/
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/15357796.html

claude