[Apologies for sending two notices in the one
day, this item was left off the last email. We're sure you'll find it
interesting though]
5. International Space Station To 'Blaze'
Across The Sky
The International Space Station is now visible in
evening skies every night until April 9th. On board are three astronauts, two
men and one woman. On Thursday April 3rd it is due to dock with the new ESA
Jules Verne - a disposable unmanned craft also known as ATV (Automated Transfer
Vehicle) that can bring tonnes of equipment and supplies to ISS. This first
mission is going well so far. After Thursday's docking it will make ISS even
bigger, now close to 300 tonnes, making it the biggest man made object ever
assembled in space. Watch (and get schedules of when coverage begins) online art
NASA TV: www.nasa.gov/ntv
PREDICTIONS: You can get
times to see I.S.S. blaze across Irish skies as an extremely bright 'star' high
up (from now until April 9th) at:
- various websites,
or
- call our Newsline after 12noon each day for the
prediction for that night: 1550-111-442 (costs 95cent/minute),
and/or
- text SPACE to 57003 and we'll
send a reminder to your mobile phone each day for 1euro.
About 1 hour before ISS flies over, the text will
give the exact time to go out and watch and any other news.
Why 1euro? Well, we asked thousands of you how
much you thought the charge should be and this was what most of you said.
Proceeds help us promote interest in
astronomy in Ireland so please tell your friends about this
service. Thank you!
I.S.S. is the most expensive object ever built,
costing an estimated 100 billion dollars. See our I.S.S. webpage here
PLEASE TELL US: If you spot I.S.S.
we want you to email observe@astronomy.ie and tell us what you
think for a report in our magazine.