MadModder

The Breakroom => The Water Cooler => Topic started by: 75Plus on February 08, 2014, 04:41:02 PM

Title: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: 75Plus on February 08, 2014, 04:41:02 PM

This site allows one to see what the ISS crew is seeing as they orbit the earth. A bit mind boggling to realize how few of the planet's occupants will ever have the opportunity to have this view.

http://iss.astroviewer.net/index.php 

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: Stilldrillin on February 08, 2014, 05:40:17 PM

WOW!  :bugeye:

Thanks Joe.  :thumbup:

David D

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: SwarfnStuff on February 09, 2014, 12:24:37 AM

When i looked they were over the Pacific so water, water everywhere. Will check back later. Did you see this link? http://www.wimp.com/orbitaltour/  It is well worth a look see.

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: dawesy on February 09, 2014, 03:55:07 AM

i have an app on my phone that tracks its position and tells you when it will be visable, great to have when stargazing.
nice find :)

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: Brass_Machine on February 09, 2014, 10:21:23 AM

There is a guy who built a light sign to notify when the ISS was overhead...

Link is HERE (http://mechanicalintegrator.com/2011/iss-notify/). With more info at Open-Notify (http://open-notify.org/)

Always thought it would be cool to build one of those.

Eric

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: Meldonmech on February 09, 2014, 12:48:05 PM

Hi SwarfnStuf 

                       What a brilliant, and interesting video, I was completely captivated.  Thanks for showing.

                                                                            Cheers David

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: SwarfnStuff on February 10, 2014, 01:49:31 AM

Yeah David  that is a great video, not sure whether it was a link from elsewhere on this forum or not but thought it worth reposting even if it were.

When I looked at the map of the ISS track is seems to follow a sine wave course. Curious, I thought orbits would be more straight line following the curvature of the orb we live on. After all the thing is falling at the same rate as it's rotation. (I think that's how it works?)

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: 75Plus on February 10, 2014, 10:05:24 AM

Quote from: SwarfnStuff on February 10, 2014, 01:49:31 AM

When I looked at the map of the ISS track is seems to follow a sine wave course. Curious, I thought orbits would be more straight line following the curvature of the orb we live on. After all the thing is falling at the same rate as it's rotation. (I think that's how it works?)

The orbit is straight line. The problem is that depicting a circular orbit on a flattened orb requires drawing it as a sine wave. If you sat down with a globe and tracked the orbit point to point you will get a better understanding. Adding to the depiction problem is that the orbit is not equatorial. It at an angle to the equator so each orbit sees a different part of the earth. Given a period of time every square meter of the earth is eventually overflown.

This site shows the orbit super imposed on a globe.  http://heavens-above.com/main.aspx

Joe

Title: Re: International Space Station Orbit in Real Time
Post by: SwarfnStuff on February 11, 2014, 12:57:19 AM

Thanks Joe, That's another reason why this is my favourite forum. Someone seems to be able to answer whatever problem or misconception arises.  :smart: I always learn something here.
John B