Last chance to see Discovery in orbit

[turbo]

Last chance to see Discovery in orbit!

Discovery has separated from the ISS and they can be seen in early evening (great for kids) in much of Canada and the northern part of the US over the next few days. Go to this NASA site and punch in your country, state/province, and select a city near your location. If you have clear skies, you should be able to see both craft, even from a light-polluted location. Discovery will appear first, followed by the ISS. Great family activity for young ones, due to the early evening apparitions and the brightness of the objects. Spend some time outdoors with your kids or grand-kids if you are forecast for clear skies.

This is Discovery's last flight, and after the next two shuttle missions, the existing fleet will be mothballed and put on display.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html

 

[Futurama]

There could be a few more space shuttle missions with Endeavor and Atlantis!
The final Discovery mission went completely flawless.

 

[Topher925]

...and of course MI is still covered in clouds.

 

[turbo]

Discovery is down, so the NASA projected viewing times for tonight are out of the question. I wanted my neighbors' grand-daughters to get to see the ISS tonight (well within their normal bed-times), but we are clouded in heavily.

 

[pmacias]

I am incredibly sad to see the end of the space shuttle program and the retirement of the Discovery spacecraft. This final opportunity to see Discovery in orbit is a reminder of the incredible achievements and advancements made by the shuttle program over the past few decades. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all the scientists, engineers, and astronauts involved in the program.

It is also a great opportunity for families and young ones to witness a piece of history and be inspired by the wonders of space exploration. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this chance to see Discovery and the ISS in orbit, and to spend some time outdoors with their loved ones marveling at the night sky.

While the shuttle program may be coming to an end, the legacy of Discovery and its fellow shuttles will continue to inspire future generations of scientists and explorers. And who knows, perhaps one day we will see a new spacecraft take its place in orbit, continuing the journey of discovery and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.