See ISS in Greater Washington DC Area

Hey Space Placers!

For those in the greater Washington D.C. area there are some sighting opportunities for the International Space Station (ISS) tonight and the next few days - the 25th and 28th are the best as ISS will be at its brightest:

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	[Mag]	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
24 Oct	-1.4	19:01:50	10°	NNW	19:04:12	18°	NNE	19:05:54	13°	ENE	visible
24 Oct	-0.4	20:37:57	10°	NW	20:38:49	17°	NW	20:38:49	17°	NW	visible
25 Oct	-3.0	19:49:37	10°	NW	19:52:39	54°	NNE	19:52:39	54°	NNE	visible
26 Oct	-2.4	19:01:18	10°	NW	19:04:23	34°	NNE	19:06:33	16°	E	visible
26 Oct	-0.4	20:38:13	10°	WNW	20:39:29	18°	W	20:39:29	18°	W	visible
27 Oct	-2.4	19:49:24	10°	WNW	19:52:37	46°	SW	19:53:30	35°	S	visible
28 Oct	-3.3	19:00:44	10°	NW	19:04:04	87°	SW	19:07:24	10°	SE	visible
29 Oct	-0.3	19:49:45	10°	W	19:51:49	16°	SW	19:53:52	10°	SSW	visible
30 Oct	-1.1	19:00:21	10°	WNW	19:03:15	28°	SW	19:06:08	10°	SSE	visible

You can photograph ISS by putting your camera on a tripod, focusing it on a distant object and taking a time exposure of several seconds. Try not to have any bright lights in the field of view. You will get a nice bright arc, especially on October 25th and 28th when ISS will be nearly as bright as Venus!

Binoculars will enhance your view as the ISS flies over, especially when it starts to enter the Earth's shadow and begins to fade - very cool. It can be seen in telescopes as well but moves pretty fast and usually requires special programming of the telescope's mount. ISS has been photographed through telescopes to reveal great detail.

Here is the website to customize your view at your own location for not only the ISS but astronomical objects and other satellites, including Hubble Space Telescope (HST) as well:

www.heavens-above.com

Here's to clear skies and good viewing!

Sky Guy in VA