
sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
- eamonn125
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sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland was created by eamonn125
HERE WE GO AGAIN !!!!!!!!
Hi Folks.My names is eamonn Cregan,and Id like to just alert everyone that because of the week long postpoment of the last flight of shuttle Eandevour to next friday night it looks very likely the we in Ireland will get one last oppertunity to see the Space shuttle AND EXTERNAL TANK blaze across the skies just 20 mins after launch ..29-04-11.
Calling all Astronomy Clubs and Photography clubs to spread the word and try to capture this event that only we in Ireland are lucky to witness.
Regards Eamonn from co.kerry
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- DaveGrennan
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Replied by DaveGrennan on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
I would strongly encourage anyone (especially) if you haven't seen this before NOT to miss this. You will NEVER get another chance.
Thanks for posting it Eamonn.
Dave.
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- Donegal Skies
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Replied by Donegal Skies on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
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- DaveGrennan
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Replied by DaveGrennan on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Dave.
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www.webtreatz.com
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- Donegal Skies
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Replied by Donegal Skies on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
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- Calibos
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Replied by Calibos on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Well when people described the blazing orange fuel tank I figured, Yeah Right!
OMG. I was blown away. Firstly it was way brighter than I expected when it cleared the house rooves up the road at 5º altitude. I was blown away at how fast it moved across the sky. By the time it reached its zenith alt in the sky the shuttle was like a moving blazing bluey white Venus and underneath was a blazing rich deep orange/amber fuel tank.
Incredible.
Usually when I look at the ISS I visualise the weightless astronauts inside leisurely going about their business with the Blue Danube playing in my head.
With the shuttle still climbing to orbit 18 minutes after launch as it passed over us I couldn't help but visualise the crew strapped into their seats and grimacing from the G forces with Meatloafs 'Bat Outta Hell' playing in my head


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- eamonn125
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Replied by eamonn125 on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Endeavour's Launch Countdown Preps Continue
Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:40:53 AM PDT
Technicians on Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A carry out the final testing of systems in space shuttle Endeavour's aft section today for its schedule launch in one week.
Pressurization of Endeavour's various propulsion systems was completed yesterday and its aft 50 1/2 foot doors were installed for flight last night. Technicians are scheduled to get the weekend off before beginning prelaunch countdown preparations on Monday.
At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Endeavour's six astronauts have administrative work to do today before going into quarantine tonight. They fly to Kennedy Tuesday morning for their final prelaunch preps.
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- eamonn125
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Replied by eamonn125 on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
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- Frank Ryan
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Replied by Frank Ryan on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Like the lads above I saw this amazing sight
the last time.
We are SO lucky to get to see this again!!
History in the making.
I'm gonna see can we get a bunch of
people together in the club to observe this.
Please, please, please lets habe clear skies!
Dunno if I'd bother photographing it, maybe a
long exposure wide field shot.
I just wanna give it my full attention.
Did I mention how Awesome this is?

Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
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- Graham
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Replied by Graham on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Dont forget the ISS is at mag -3.6 tonight @ 2213hrs (location depending)!!

Graham
My ISS Pass Pics [
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- eamonn125
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Replied by eamonn125 on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Thanks for sharing there beautiful pics,can you share with us any tips-settings-advise for friday night with our cameras.I have a cannon 400d,but Iam not experienced enough at night time photography.
Thank you
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- Frank Ryan
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Replied by Frank Ryan on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
was around Mag -8!
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- Graham
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Replied by Graham on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Stuck on a wide angle lens,
Camera on manual,
ISO 100,
Aperature as open as it goes, for me it was F2.8
Shutter at 30secs,
Focus on manual to a bright star,
When you see the ISS just compose the photo quicky and click the shutter... and dont kick the tripod like I did!

when the shutter opens, re-align and take another shot!

and even better its around our skies for bright passes for a while!
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- martinus
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Replied by martinus on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Without sounding too thick, is there a reliable way of determining what time it will be visible from here? (If it's visible at all).
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- Graham
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Replied by Graham on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
put in your location coordinates, you can get them from google earth if you dont have a gps, or even your rough location i.e. 'Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland'.
and you can find out exactly when the ISS (as well as other satellities) is going to pass (unless they change their path but unlikely).
Then when you have the time and their location in the sky go outside with a compass and predict where it will be just incase a house is too tall or a tree is going to be in the way so you can move if need to.
There are a few other ways but personally this works for me!

All clouded up at the moment... not looking good for todays pass's so far!

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- dave_lillis
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Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
I was completely blown away last by the brightness and colour time we saw this.
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.

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- eamonn125
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Replied by eamonn125 on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
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Replied by eamonn125 on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
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Replied by eamonn125 on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
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- Donegal Skies
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Replied by Donegal Skies on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Can't wait to Firday. Here's hoping the weather holds up. I have written a bit on my website about it so that people in my area will be aware of the event. You can read it here:
Space Shuttle Visible Over Donegal after Launch
All the best and thanks again for the heads up Eamonn.
Brendan,
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Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.

+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
ISS:
Appears 21h04m15s 2.0mag az:270.5° W horizon
Culmination 21h09m10s -4.2mag az:186.1° S h:62.3°
distance: 394.6km height above Earth: 351.9km elevation of sun: -3° angular velocity: 1.15°/s
Disappears 21h13m12s -1.5mag az:102.6° ESE h:3.7°
ISS:
Appears 22h39m23s 1.1mag az:278.3° W horizon
Culmination 22h44m05s -3.2mag az:205.5° SSW h:27.1°
distance: 705.8km height above Earth: 350.7km elevation of sun: -14° angular velocity: 0.64°/s
Disappears 22h44m39s -3.2mag az:183.6° S h:25.1°
Details from Calsky for Friday night:
Shuttle:
Appears 21h04m33s 4.1mag az:270.6° W horizon
Culmination 21h07m40s -2.0mag az:189.6° S h:35.6°
distance: 279.9km height above Earth: 167.1km elevation of sun: -3° angular velocity: 1.65°/s
Disappears 21h10m09s 0.5mag az:112.2° ESE h:4.1°
ISS:
Appears 21h28m43s 2.0mag az:276.4° W horizon
Culmination 21h33m34s -3.8mag az:196.1° SSW h:44.8°
distance: 486.4km height above Earth: 351.6km elevation of sun: -6° angular velocity: 0.93°/s
Disappears 21h36m38s -2.0mag az:120.7° ESE h:8.4°
Shuttle:
Appears 22h35m48s 3.3mag az:272.1° W horizon
Disappears 22h38m52s 0.2mag az:218.2° SW h:13.1°
ISS:
Appears 23h03m58s 0.8mag az:276.1° W horizon
Disappears 23h08m05s -2.1mag az:219.3° SW h:14.4°
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- Keith g
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Replied by Keith g on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland
www.flickr.com/photos/79652716@N00/3724408751/in/photostream
Keith.
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- Pat_Dunne
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Replied by Pat_Dunne on topic Re: sts 134 and external tank over south coast of Ireland

spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/status.html
1701 GMT (1:01 p.m. EDT)
NASA now estimates Endeavour won't launch before Monday at 2:33 p.m. EDT
There is always the ISS tonight

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