[Tech1] ISS e-mails

[Bernard Newnham]

The ISS orbit is inclined at 51 degrees to the equator - apparently a 
compromise to do with the latitudes of Baikonur and Canaveral, where 
supplies are lifted from. It just goes round and round in its orbit, 
that's all. Meanwhile the earth turns under it , and when it gets back 
to a particular point in the orbit every 90 minutes or so, a different 
place is under it. Like the stars, it's impossible to see in daylight, 
but when the sun is shining on it and not you it's a pretty bright 
object moving at a fair clip across the sky.

Next chance to see, here in Woking, is tonight at 1906  till 1912, going 
right overhead, so should be easy to spot in a clear sky. There's an app 
for that, called ISS Detector.

B



On 28/03/2019 20:19, Alasdair Lawrance via Tech1 wrote:
> Since it doesn’t appear at the same time every day, is it pre-programmed to follow different paths and orbits, or is it manoeuvred by the crew?  Some days it doesn’t appear at all, so you don’t get an e. How is it worked out when our planet is spinning and tilting on its axis, as well as moving in a non-circular orbit round the sun?

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