Triple points of light in March 25 night sky

William Atkins
Tuesday, 25 March 2008 19:14

Science - Space

Watch the ESA Jules Verne fly overhead in the night sky on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, and then about 4.5 minutes later see the International Space Station and the NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour fly over.

The triple sighting (Jules Verne-Endeavour-ISS) only occurs Tuesday night (March 25, 2008), with the double sighting (Jules Verne-ISS) happening (possibly) each night until April 3 when the automated transfer vehicle (ATV) docks with the ISS.

The ATV Jules Verne is now about 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) in front of the orbit of the International Space Station.

In addition, Tuesday night, March 25, 2008, the space shuttle Endeavour, and its STS-123 crew, will be located near to the International Space Station.

The Endeavour just undocked from the station the day before, March 24, at about 8:25 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. It is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, March 26, so will only be visible in the night sky on Tuesday.

Skywatchers can find out when they fly over your local night sky at SpaceWeather.com.

The unmanned Jules Verne will appear similar to a 2.8 magnitude star when it flies over. The International Space Station, because of its much larger size, will appear even brighter, at -1.3.

The Endeavour will be positioned in front of the space station, also less bright than the large space station.

From my earthbound position in central Illinois (United States), I will be able to see the Jules Verne cross the south-southwestern horizon at 8:31:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time. It will have a maximum elevation in the sky of about 30 degrees and a magnitude of about 2.8.

The International Space Station will appear 4.5 minutes later in the SSW horizon at 8:36:19 p.m. Central Daylight Time and reach an elevation of 31 degrees. It will appear similar to a -1.3 magnitude star.

The European Space Agency’s robotic cargo ship, the Jules Verne, along with its sister ships, will be providing supplies and cargo to the International Space Station over the next few years. Read up on the Jules Verne at the iTWire story “Jules Verne makes successful Journey to the Orbit of the Earth”