martinastro
Martin Mc Kenna
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 5182
Maghera, N. Ireland
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« on: July 16, 2009, 12:08:15 am » |
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After five launch delays due to thunderstorm activity space shuttle Endeavour finally went up in an exciting text book lift off which I watched live on NASA TV with my family. While the exhaust plume was still dynamically blasting below the shuttle I figured I had about 18 min's to get outside in the hope of seeing the rare sight of the external fuel tanks passing over. Beforehand it was overcast but when I left the house the sky was clear, however a dense bank of fog was present across the land. I ran like mad to get away from the street lights and found a good spot in the country. Out of breath and panting I waited...at approx 23. 20 BST (give or take a min) a moving object caught my eye low down in the west above the tree tops. It was bright and stellar in appearance and was moving rapidly across the sky to the east, it was Endeavour!. As the shuttle approached closer it suddenly split into two stellar objects, one below the other in an almost vertical line, the southern most object was a deep amber colour which must have been the external fuel tanks. They crossed the sky at a speed significantly faster than the ISS and could be seen glowing through the upper most section of the fog bank which drifted through the fields, higher than my head height. I took several images but they didn't turn out well at all thanks to the fog. However, the visual sight was extremely impressive and something which I have never experienced before!. At 23.45 the ISS also blazed across the sky causing a fog halo to form around it's briilant light. Quite a night!.
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martinastro
Martin Mc Kenna
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 5182
Maghera, N. Ireland
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« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2009, 01:05:14 am » |
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Excellent Dave!!, well done on getting video footage of this rare event. That should be sent into the TV stations to generate some interest. Great stuff.  |
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jjb
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« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2009, 01:16:10 am » |
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Congrats Dave on capturing it nicely done .
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brianb
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« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2009, 03:08:39 am » |
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Well done lads - I was clouded out  |
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rjgjr
Guest
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« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2009, 03:42:55 am » |
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Congratulations on the observations!!
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markt
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« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2009, 07:13:52 am » |
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Fantastic observations both of you!  |
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