Heavens Above finally have a Shenzhou page up - and according to it, we have regular passes. There's a good one tonight, in fact, at about 5 past 9, and passing just below Venus and heading towards the Moon. Here's a map:
The upper line is for Invercargill, the middle for Palmerston North and Wellington, and the lower one for Auckland. If you're in between, it's in between. Note that southern watchers will need to go out a couple of minutes earlier.
Of course, this means that it is guaranteed to be cloudy, but if it is, there's another good pass on Saturday night. This one won't be visible from the South Island, but will be in roughly the same place for Palmerston North and Wellington viewers; Aucklanders will need to look just above the pointers to pick it up.
While it may be tempting to wave, they won't be able to see it.
3 comments:
Had a nice clear area of sky in the right area but in between street lights, moonlight and twilight (Invercargill is blessed with long summer evenings even at this time of year) I didn't pick it up...bugger.
Mike
Posted by Anonymous : 10/13/2005 09:40:00 PM
Naturally, it was cloudy here. Maybe Saturday.
Posted by Idiot/Savant : 10/13/2005 10:49:00 PM
So I decide to have a bit of a poke around on heavens above to see what satellites are out...first I discover I've missed the ISS by about 5 minutes not deterred I decide to look for a reasonably bright satellite that is due to be passing over. I use my GPS (which is awfully geeky) to identify the patch of sky where its likely to emerge from...nothing...after much patient waiting I happen to glance up towards the moon and see a bright satellite moving on the correct path but in the exact opposite direction to where I think it should be coming from...foiled again.
Posted by Anonymous : 10/14/2005 08:55:00 AM
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