Happy 15th ISS!

We get so much interesting science, not to mention enjoyment, from the International Space Station, it seems only fair to wish it a Happy Birthday!

(Source)

The first International Space Station component, the Russian Zarya module, was launched in November 1998. In the 15 years since, NASA and its global partners have built a world class orbiting laboratory, establishing a continuous human presence in space since 2000 and paving the way for future exploration beyond. 

My first view of ISON!

I got up at 4.30am yesterday, cycled 7km in 2°C in an attempt to spot ISON before it disappears from view. As it is, it's very low in the morning sky, only 5ish degrees above the horizon. That, combined with the full moon blasting light all over the sky and the lights in the harbour, meant I had my work cut out for me! 

Cork Harbour - not ideal for astronomy.

I located Mars and Arcturus, and used them to find Spica, which was very low when I started. From there I attempted to hop to ISON using my binos. It was very difficult. I knew where it should be, but it just wasn't visible. Eventually, in the short period when it was high enough, and the sunrise hadn't brightened the sky too much, I managed to spot a faint green-ish blur. Success! 

After 2 and a half hours, I had very numb fingers and a whole heap of photos to edit. This is the result. 

YAY COMET!

I'll probably play with it a bit more and try to pull some more from it, but for now, given the conditions, I'm pleased. 

A Stellarium screenshot for comparison.

I stayed around to catch a gorgeous sunrise over the harbour. 

Sunrise.

Then I cycled home, filled a hot-water bottle and crawled into bed to attempt to regain feeling in my extremities.

All in all, a great morning.

PS. Bonus setting moon.

Gravity! *Potential Spoilers*

I've now seen Gravity in the cinema twice, in both 2D and in 3D. It is awesome. Stunningly beautiful to watch, and pretty much non-stop action from start to finish.

Obviously, a certain amount of artistic licence is taken, and the film is not 100% realistic. I was so caught up in the story that most of the inaccuracies went over my head, but the one I noticed was, during the crying scene, when Sandra Bullocks tears did a sort of sweet, gently floating off her face thing.

I remembered a video Commander Chris Hadfield did showing how crying in space really works...

...And it was nowhere near as sexy as Sandra made it look! 

#WaveAtSaturn Part 2

Back in July, I posted about #WaveAtSaturn. On that day, we were given advance warning, for the first time ever, that a spacecraft would be photographing the Earth at a certain time. All over the globe, many people went outside to wave towards Saturn, where the Cassini spacecraft would be. The image from that day is now viewable online, and it's a beauty!

(source, hi-res)

A collage was made with the many photos submitted using the wave at Saturn hashtag too. It's pretty nifty!

(source, hi-res)

Very cool to see so many people getting involved!

Touchdown Expedition 37!

Just wanted to do a quick photo-dump of the screenshots I took at stupid o'clock last night during the most recent landing of a Soyuz craft from the International Space Station.

The Soyuz capsule seen drifting away from the ISS.

Soyuz more than 300km above the Pacific Ocean.

Soyuz with parachute deployed, flanked by a Russian helicopter.

Touchdown! 

Mission Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin back on terra firma, holding the Olympic Torch.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is all smiles.

Nyberg, Yurchikhin and Parmitano well wrapped up against the cold.

It was a great landing, as they always are! Those Soyuz crafts are amazing things!