Sunday, July 26, 2009

Missed it!



The space station and space shuttle are hooked up right now which makes for a lot of reflective surface up there in orbit. Last night and tonight, as it makes its rounds of the earth, the station-shuttle will be as bright as Venus, which means visible even to we urban dwellers. Even cooler is that it will rise in the west and move to the east. Wicked cool if you ask me.

Last night it was stormy and overcast so I didn't get to see it. But tonight is a second chance. The forcast calls for more thunderstorms but I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyway.

As fun as seeing the reflected sunlight off the space station-shuttle would be thinking about the fact that there are humans up there, hanging out, gossiping (probably) and gazing back at this beautiful blue marble in space. Do astronauts still drink Tang? I'm praying for clear skies. C'mon weather gods, work with me here, please?


The black eyed susans look a bit intimidated by the thorns, don't they?

22 comments:

Cynthia Pittmann said...

I wonder if it ever goes over Puerto Rico? I would like to know when, so I too, could go outside and imagine. <3

steven said...

hi reya, i wonder what they talk about and what they think when the radio's turned off and it's just them seeing the world and then looking behind them and seeing the big space with the billions of tiny lights? i wonder what the gossip's about as well!!! have a peaceful day. steven

Elizabeth said...

Like the sunny and spiky juxtapositions.

Joanne said...

Our space program is an amazing journey, but I've read recently that it will soon be coming to an end, the shuttles retired, and no further human excursions on the map. Have you heard this at all? If so, what a shame!

ellen abbott said...

I'll have to see if it is going to pass over us. When I was doing the river guide thing we would often see satellites as they crossed the heaven.

Sandra Leigh said...

We're traveling in Montana today, and by tonight we should be in Manitoba - lots of big sky. I hope it's visible this far north. Thanks, Reya.

Cheryl Cato said...

Good luck with the weather. I've seen the shuttle fly over & seen the space station overhead in the dark west Texas sky at the McDonald Observatory site. It's very cool!

Lisa Ursu said...

Wicked, wicked cool!

Nancy said...

Very cool. Thanks for the tip.

The black-eyed susans do look a little intimidated. Their little petals pulling away from the thorns.

Chuck Dilmore said...

beautiful job!
Bravo, for noticing the hidden world!

peace~
Chuck

Unknown said...

Thanks for bringing this up--I didn't know about it. Now if I can only stay awake until it's dark! It stays light really late here in the summer because we're right at the western edge of Mountain Time.

Hope you get to check it out anyway!

Reya Mellicker said...

I bet the NASA website would tellyou if it will be visible from Puerto Rico, Cynthia. Or from elsewhere.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Rosaria Williams said...

The astronauts are as busy as bees up there. May they be successful with their tasks and with their entire mission. Are you sure we can see them?

Barbara Martin said...

That would be quite the sight to see, Reya, with a telescope.

tut-tut said...

Hope things transpire so that you get a viewing.

Reya Mellicker said...

Rosaria - I learned that the shuttle/station will be visible in Washington DC from the Washington Post. Don't know where and when it will be visible elsewhere. I'll find the link.

Reya Mellicker said...

Here's the link to the WaPo story.

Deborah said...

I think that like their human counterparts, we grieve our beloved pets through every season, every holiday--a year seems right somehow

I intend to grieve as long as I do.

All my love beautiful big head

Ronda Laveen said...

I don't know how long you are going to grieve Jake but I am enjoying his "portfolio." Keep the photos coming. Thanks for the heads up on space station/shuttle.

Reya Mellicker said...

I saw the crescent moon, and received a truly unbelievable number of mosquito bites, but even though there were large gaps in the clouds, I did not see the space station-shuttle. Oh well.

Tess Kincaid said...

Hey, you'll have to let us know if you see it! Love the pic.

karen said...

we've seen the space station before - most impressive, but I believe that a lot of it is in the imagination of the viewer, folks like you and me! Hope you get to see it tonight :)