Mark Shuttleworth enthusiasts should be able to see the South African space tourist’s intended destination – the International Space Station (ISS) – with the naked eye, the SA Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town said on Friday.
”You can see where Africa’s first astronaut is, and you don’t need a telescope..,” astronomer Dr Dave Laney said. ”The ISS is large, and reflects sunlight fairly well, so it’s quite easy to spot. At its best, its easily a match for the bright stars of Orion or the Southern Cross.”
According to the Cape Town Observatory, there will be several excellent post-launch opportunities to spot the ISS.
An enthusiastic Laney said he had selected what he thought would be the best viewing times for city dwellers disadvantaged by bright city lights while attempting to peer into the night sky.
”On April 28, the ISS can be seen passing underneath the upside-down question mark of Leo the Lion, looking about as bright as Leo’s brightest star, Regulus,” Dr Laney said.
The station will rise in the north north west at 6.37pm and disappear into the Earth’s shadow at about 6.43pm (South African time) in the north east.
On April 29, the ISS rises in the west north west at 7.17pm (South African time) passing above Saturn, Mars and Aldeberan, moving south and passing just above the bright star Betelgeuse in Orion, and finally disappearing into the Earth’s shadow at 7.22pm. The brightest appearance of the ISS above Johannesburg during the Shuttleworth flight will occur on April 30.
”The station rises in the north west at 6.21pm just to the left of the bright star Capella, then passes just to the right of the bright planet Jupiter, crossing almost overhead before disappearing into the Earth’s shadow at 6.29pm.,” Dr Laney said. – Sapa