How to catch a falling star
Updated on 20 February 2008
Ever wanted how to spot a falling spy satellite before it's blasted to atoms? Find out here.
As spy satellite USA 193's orbit decays and it approaches earth, more and more people are interesting in seeing if they can spot the descending satellite in the sky.
Channel 4 News Online has used the 'Heavens Above' website to see how they can spot it and provides this unofficial walk through.
1. First visit the Heavens Above website to find it's estimated flight path.
Heavens Above: Decaying spy satellite USA 193
2. Second, go to another part of the website and enter in your current location - you can put your own co-ordinates in or even use Google Maps to identify your spot:
Heavens Above: Configuration and Satellites
We've used generic London co-ordinates.
3. Finally, you'll be sent to a page like this:
Heavens Above: USA 193 - Visible Passes
From this, it will show at what time, altitude and direction the satellite will appear in the sky, and at what time, altitude and direction it will leave your sight.
e.g. In London, at 20 Feb the satellite will appear with a magnitude of 1.8, it will appear at 18.40 at an altitude of 10 in the South South West direction.
It will then go out of sight at 18.42 at an altitude of 37 in the East South East direction.
Note: 'Altitude' in this case refers to an angle above the horizon -so 90 would be 90 degrees above the horizon, directly above your head.
For more info on Altitude - click here
