[Atmob-discuss] Shuttle Launch Thursday at 4:31:44pm

[George Roberts]

    I'm getting questions about tomorrows launch.  From Boston area it 
will be >8 degrees above the horizon for about 1 minute and >5 degrees 
for about 2 mintues.  It will be about 9 degrees when due south east and 
above 5 degrees from due south traveling to due east.  To get the exact 
times, altitude, azimuth, ra, and declination, Ted Molczan prepared this 
wonderful excel spreadsheet:

http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/Shuttle/Shuttle_Ascent_Trajectory_to_ISS.xls

To use it, edit only the red text (latitude, longitude, altitude of 
observer and time of launch).  Time of launch can be set to anything you 
want but if not  UTC the RA, dec will be wrong.  I don't care about RA, 
Dec so I changed it from 21:31 to 4:31.  When you open the file, if you 
don't enable macros, it will work fine except you won't get RA, 
Declination.  Alt and Azi will work fine without macros.  MAKE SURE YOU 
CHANGE LAT AND LONG.

For my area, the best place to see the launch is at the middle school 
playing fields (even though it is in a depression!).  It is amazing how 
low the horizon is from a large field.  Remember you want 8 degrees 
south east, and 4 degrees south and east.  So scout out some locations 
today.  Can someone attest to the clubhouse view?

Weather is predicted clear.  I mean not just new england clear - but 
really CLEAR.  Down to the horizon!  I am very excited about this.  Tell 
everyone you know and tell them to bring binoculars.

Also you will want to know exactly when and if the launch occurrs.  NASA 
TV is good if you have it.  I believe CNN usually shows it starting at 
about 20 seconds before launch.  I usually use nasa's web site up until 
5 minutes before launch - then take off in the car and have my wife let 
me know over the cell phone when it launches exactly.  Usually it 
launches to the second when they say it will but the window is typically 
10 minutes and if there is some weather that can be avoided by waiting 5 
minutes or launching a few minutes early then they might do it.

Also be aware that the excel spreadsheet isn't perfect - it is for an 
earlier launch and each launch is slightly different depending how 
exactly the ISS passes over florida.  If it passes a bit east then the 
shuttle will be more east.  If it passes more west then the launch will 
be a bit more west.  The variations east-west shouldn't result in more 
than a degree or two in azimuth but 6 degrees instead of 8 degrees may 
suck if the trees are blocking up to 7 degrees.

- George Roberts