International Space Station Sightings teamup?

[+TyroneShoelaces]

Hi all.  I'm looking for somebody interested in teaming up to log a visit in the ISS sightings category.

 

I am near Cleveland, Ohio, and per the rules my partner has to be 293+ miles away.

 

I have my eye on an upcoming evening time pass, Friday May 9th, 2025.  It will be headed my direction from southwest of me, a good potential partner would be around Memphis, Tennessee (or anywhere along a straight line that passes from Memphis, TN to Cleveland, OH.

 

There's also a second opportunity the next night, May 10th, close to the same course.

 

Let me know if you're interested!

Edited May 1 by TyroneShoelaces

[+Max and 99]

May 9th is on my list too! I was waiting till closer to the date to see if I could find a partner so I'm so glad you posted this.

 

The distance is not the ground distance. It's 1 minute time difference between the max over you and the max over your partner. Give me a minute and I'll look up what the current stats are for my Max that night

 

21:20:42 is my max time that night. 

Edited May 1 by Max and 99

[+Max and 99]

22:24:10

Detroit

87°

I will wait to see what your max is and I'm hoping I can invite. Bobfrapples

[+Max and 99]

I contacted Bobfrapples with a preliminary inquiry and he is interested. 

May 9.

-3.9, 90°!

22:25:37

 

Tyroneshoelaces, if you and Bobfrapples are too close, don't worry about it, as I can have a local  waymarker partner with him instead. I am really looking forward to this.

[+Ariberna]

Max, It is this https://heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=42.3145&lng=-7.8851&loc=A+Valenzá&alt=0&tz=CET&satid=25544&mjd=60804.9083114873&type=V  the same ?

[+Max and 99]

5 hours ago, Ariberna said:

Max, It is this https://heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=42.3145&lng=-7.8851&loc=A+Valenzá&alt=0&tz=CET&satid=25544&mjd=60804.9083114873&type=V  the same ?

Ariberna,

That is for a different pass. I looked up your data (7 hours ahead of me) for the same pass as us (21:22, Oklahoma and 22:26 Ohio), and unfortunately there's a dotted line after the ISS heads north, and before it gets to Spain, so the pass has already ended.  Sorry!

 

Edited May 3 by Max and 99

[+Max and 99]

I don't want to make a mistake and disappoint someone, so please double check me!

*Detroit and Cleveland are too close, so there will be two of us in OKC to watch the ISS pass.  Is everyone good with this? If you notice a mistake or have any questions, please post!

 

May 9:

 

Max and 99 - OKC: 21:22:16, 60º, -3.8

 

Bobfrapples - Detroit: 22:25:51, 90º, -3.9

________________________

May 9:

 

Sidehopper - OKC: 21:22:16, 60º, -3.8

 

Tyroneshoelaces - Cleveland: 22:26:04, 68º, -3.5

[Lightnin Bug]

I have a serious learning curve on this, but I live at these coords:  40.5573°N, 75.4968°W  (which is 573 km away from "Cleveland-ish").

 

It seems that it will be -2.8 magnitude (between Jupiter and Venus in terms of magnitude) when it passes by the evening of 9 May.  The reason it can work for me is that my beloved and tolerant wife and I may be sitting around the solo stove in our adirondack chairs and drinking wine if the weather cooperates at that time (20:50:18 or almost 9 pm - EDT!).  I do have a knowledge of the night sky and can spot it once I get myself aligned with the right constellations.  The altitude is lowish, so I would need to go to the front of the house and hope the local light pollution is not too bad.  ;-)

 

10 May at 9:35 pm passes right by the big dipper for us and we can definitely see that from out evening relaxation spot.  -3.2 magnitude then.

 

Please give me time to learn more and see if it is at all feasible to join you all.

 

Best regards,

 

LightninBug

 

 

Edited May 3 by Lightnin Bug

[+TyroneShoelaces]

32 minutes ago, Lightnin Bug said:

I have a serious learning curve on this, but I live at these coords:  40.5573°N, 75.4968°W  (which is 573 km away from "Cleveland-ish").

 

It seems that it will be -2.8 magnitude (between Jupiter and Venus in terms of magnitude) when it passes by the evening of 9 May.  The reason it can work for me is that my beloved and tolerant wife and I may be sitting around the solo stove in our adirondack chairs and drinking wine if the weather cooperates at that time (20:50:18 or almost 9 pm - EDT!).  I do have a knowledge of the night sky and can spot it once I get myself aligned with the right constellations.  The altitude is lowish, so I would need to go to the front of the house and hope the local light pollution is not too bad.  ;-)

 

10 May at 9:35 pm passes right by the big dipper for us and we can definitely see that from out evening relaxation spot.  -3.2 magnitude then.

 

Please give me time to learn more and see if it is at all feasible to join you all.

 

Best regards,

 

LightninBug

 

 

 

I would be happy to work with you on another night.  I don't see anything in the rules stating that I can't do it more than once.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to participate with us on the night of May 9th.  The maximum height you will see in Reading is 37 degrees.   Imagine if you will, the horizon is at 0 degrees, and straight overhead is at 90 degrees.  The rules state that the maximum for a pass that qualifies is higher than 45 degrees.
 

For us to work together, the direction of travel will need to be more west to east for us to be more than a minute apart, also part of the rules.

[+TyroneShoelaces]

1 hour ago, Max and 99 said:

I don't want to make a mistake and disappoint someone, so please double check me!

*Detroit and Cleveland are too close, so there will be two of us in OKC to watch the ISS pass.  Is everyone good with this? If you notice a mistake or have any questions, please post!

 

May 9:

 

Max and 99 - OKC: 21:22:16, 60º, -3.8

 

Bobfrapples - Detroit: 22:25:51, 90º, -3.9

________________________

May 9:

 

Sidehopper - OKC: 21:22:16, 60º, -3.8

 

Tyroneshoelaces - Cleveland: 22:26:04, 68º, -3.5

 

Is Sidehopper with you, Max and 99?  Can you have them message me so I am confident they are on board?

 

I'm really excited to get this one done.

[+Max and 99]

15 minutes ago, TyroneShoelaces said:

 

Is Sidehopper with you, Max and 99?  Can you have them message me so I am confident they are on board?

 

I'm really excited to get this one done.

I can 100% verify that Sidehopper will participate.

[+Max and 99]

1 hour ago, Lightnin Bug said:

I have a serious learning curve on this, but I live at these coords:  40.5573°N, 75.4968°W  (which is 573 km away from "Cleveland-ish").

 

It seems that it will be -2.8 magnitude (between Jupiter and Venus in terms of magnitude) when it passes by the evening of 9 May.  The reason it can work for me is that my beloved and tolerant wife and I may be sitting around the solo stove in our adirondack chairs and drinking wine if the weather cooperates at that time (20:50:18 or almost 9 pm - EDT!).  I do have a knowledge of the night sky and can spot it once I get myself aligned with the right constellations.  The altitude is lowish, so I would need to go to the front of the house and hope the local light pollution is not too bad.  ;-)

 

10 May at 9:35 pm passes right by the big dipper for us and we can definitely see that from out evening relaxation spot.  -3.2 magnitude then.

 

Please give me time to learn more and see if it is at all feasible to join you all.

 

Best regards,

 

LightninBug

 

 

As Tyrone said, for the May 9 evening pass, you are 5 seconds too close to participate with him, and 8º too low to participate with anyone. The distance is flight time, not ground distance. Minimum between your max time and your partner's max time needs to be 60 seconds.  If you want to move your Adirondack chairs a little to the northeast, you might be able to pull it off.

 

We tried to find a partner for you for other dates, but no luck yet. It would be helpful to know your homebase.

 

Keep an eye on the data (I use Heavens Above) and watch for a minimum of 45º and 60 seconds between anyone you want to partner with in the future. I hope you can find someone!

 

 

 

Edited May 3 by Max and 99

[+Max and 99]

28 minutes ago, TyroneShoelaces said:

I would be happy to work with you on another night.  I don't see anything in the rules stating that I can't do it more than once.

Definitely more than one ISS waymark is allowed! And I hope you do!

[+Max and 99]

1 hour ago, Lightnin Bug said:

I have a serious learning curve on this, but I live at these coords:  40.5573°N, 75.4968°W  (which is 573 km away from "Cleveland-ish").

I found a possible partner for you!! I messaged him, and suggested he contact you if he is available that night. So happy!

[+8Nuts MotherGoose]

3 hours ago, Lightnin Bug said:

I have a serious learning curve on this, but I live at these coords:  40.5573°N, 75.4968°W  (which is 573 km away from "Cleveland-ish").

 

LightninBug

 

 

LightninBug, I am available to Partner with you on the evening of May 10. I live near Donna, TX (6 miles from Mexico.)  We are both on the same ISS Path. It will pass almost overhead for me at 85° at 20:32:42. Weather forecast says clear skies.

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
10 May	-3.7	20:29:22	10°	SW	20:32:42	85°	NW	20:36:03	10°	NE	visible

Contact me at 8nuts1@gmail.com and we'll start flattening that learning curve.

[Lightnin Bug]

Hi 8Nuts Mother Goose!

 

Thanks for reaching out.  The weather is forecast to be clear here in Allentown the evening of the 10th (rainy on the 9th), so let us go for it.  It will pass over Allentown a few minutes later (albeit, eastern time zone).

 

Best regards,

 

LB

[+Max and 99]

We, along with sidehopper, had a fantastic view of the ISS tonight in Edmond OK, at the west side of Lake Arcadia.. 

I know that my partner bobfrapples8 Saw the pass. Did you, Tyroneshoelaces?

Edited May 10 by Max and 99

[+TyroneShoelaces]

13 hours ago, Max and 99 said:

We, along with sidehopper, had a fantastic view of the ISS tonight in Edmond OK, at the west side of Lake Arcadia.. 

I know that my partner bobfrapples8 Saw the pass. Did you, Tyroneshoelaces?

Sure did!  Awesome!  It was a perfect, clear night.

[+Max and 99]

Well done, every one! One more tonight.

[+8Nuts MotherGoose]

The Weather looks good here in Donna, TX for tonight's Pass at 20:32. We've got about 25% cloud cover with fluffy clouds, but lots of blue sky between.

 

I was curious as to where the ISS would pass on it's next pass 90 minutes after it passed over us. Would you believe it will pass 57° NW of Mingo at 22:11.Mingo is the World's oldest Geocache, located in NW Kansas. And tomorrow night, The ISS will pass over Mingo again at 81° to the SE at 21:23. There is a large  Block Party Event occurring there this Weekend.

[+Max and 99]

58 minutes ago, 8Nuts MotherGoose said:

The Weather looks good here in Donna, TX for tonight's Pass at 20:32. We've got about 25% cloud cover with fluffy clouds, but lots of blue sky between.

 

I was curious as to where the ISS would pass on it's next pass 90 minutes after it passed over us. Would you believe it will pass 57° NW of Mingo at 22:11.Mingo is the World's oldest Geocache, located in NW Kansas. And tomorrow night, The ISS will pass over Mingo again at 81° to the SE at 21:23. There is a large  Block Party Event occurring there this Weekend.

I had checked out the Mingo passes because the two locals who would normally partner with anyone were going to be there.  

Fellow participants: don't forget to check out the ISS waymark visiting instructions.

[+8Nuts MotherGoose]

What a surprise. I had three senior citizen guests observe the ISS Pass with me. One of them has a sister that lives 20 miles north of Allentown, PA. A phone call was made. A few minutes later her sister called back, "I SEE IT! I SEE IT! IT WAS RIGHT WHERE YOU TOLD ME TO LOOK! I'M STILL WATCHING IT!"

[+Max and 99]

22 minutes ago, 8Nuts MotherGoose said:

What a surprise. I had three senior citizen guests observe the ISS Pass with me. One of them has a sister that lives 20 miles north of Allentown, PA. A phone call was made. A few minutes later her sister called back, "I SEE IT! I SEE IT! IT WAS RIGHT WHERE YOU TOLD ME TO LOOK! I'M STILL WATCHING IT!"

Fantastic!

[Lightnin Bug]

While my spouse was aware what I was up to after our finishing watching the soccer game, she did not come on out.  I did show her the photos and the photo of the airplane that faked me out right beforehand.

 

That was much fun,

 

LB from Alientown, PA