Night Sky Watching: The International Space Station

AI Thread Summary
A San Diego resident used their telescope at 4:30 AM PST to observe Saturn, the Orion Nebula, and Mars, noting their impressive appearance. Around 5:30 AM, they spotted a bright object moving slowly across the sky, which they identified as the International Space Station (ISS) after ruling out other possibilities like planes or satellites. The observer expressed excitement about the sighting and shared a resource for tracking the ISS, called J Pass, which allows users to enter their location to find out when the ISS will be visible. The discussion highlights the joy of night sky watching and the thrill of spotting the ISS. This experience underscores the accessibility and wonder of astronomy for enthusiasts.
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I woke up at 4:30 PST (San Diego) and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to take my telescope out and finally check out Saturn, the Orion Nebula, and Mars again. They looked awesome through the 8" telescope and I wish I was able to take pictures. Then around 5:30 I saw a really bright object moving slowly from the southwest towards the northeast, too big and bright to be a satellite. I knew it wasn't a plane because it had no blinking lights so I tried to use my telescope but I was only able to make out a solid ball of light at that speed. Turns out it was the International Space Station! I just thought that was neat and wanted to share. :o)
 
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