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Health & Fitness

Visible Space Station Pass Coming Next Week

Space station visible in a 2-minute pass over our area March 20th.

 

If you have never experienced the spectacular view of the International Space Station passing overhead, a great opportunity is coming in the early morning of March 20th. 

From Pottstown, and the surrounding area, the ISS (International Space Station) will pass overhead beginning at 5:24AM for a 2-minute viewing chance - weather permitting.  It is worth getting up early to see it.

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The 990,000-pound station travels nearly five miles per second.  Orbiting at 17,500 miles per hour, the station and her crew of six will travel 580 miles in our 2-minute observable time slot.  

Where to look:

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At 5:24AM, look to the southeast.  Next, look halfway between the horizon and straight up - this is about a 45 degree angle.  The station will suddenly appear as it leaves Earth's shadow and will resemble a very bright moving star.  At 5:25AM, ISS will be over the coast, still viewable, directly east of our location.  By 5:26AM it'll begin to fade into the horizon as it approaches Nova Scotia.  See the ground track here.  Orbiting 200 miles above us, we'll see it high in the sky even though the ground track is actually east of us.

If you miss it, there are several earlier nightime opportunities coming.  While certain computer progams offer much detail, some websites such as heavens-above are fantastic for tracking the ISS and other orbiting objects.

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