N.Korean Satellite viewing

[flogger]

If it's clear tomorrow nite, the KMS North Korean satellite will be tumbling right over Denver. Should be visible for several minutes tracking from SSE to NNW at about 7:48 PM MST.

This site has details and tracking info on various spacecraft, including the ISS. http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=39026&lat=39.46164&lng=-104.97986&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=MST

Great stuff for kids on summer nights!

[HoneyBadger]

Another good resource for satellite info: http://www.n2yo.com/

Specific info on the North Korean satellite: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=41332

[O2HeN2]

On the heavens above sight you really need to check out the Iridium Flares. But they are VERY localized and VERY short lived (a few seconds) so you need an accurate lat/long in order to see them well. Pick one that's -4 magnitude or brighter (bigger negative number). Make sure you sync your watch to the second against an atomic clock -- the flares only last a few seconds.

...and as I told a friend of mine who thought he saw one "If you THINK you saw one, you didn't." He came back the next day (there was another flare the following night where he was) and told me, oh, yhea, I saw one last night, for sure!

O2

[jmg8550]

Is the nork satellite functional? Or just falling out of orbit?

[HoneyBadger]

Is the nork satellite functional? Or just falling out of orbit?
Technically, all satellites are constantly falling out of orbit... ;)

Open source reporting and general DoD reports indicate that the satellite is indeed tumbling out of control and began to do so shortly after launch.

[Aloha_Shooter]

In general, a tumbling spacecraft is not functional. I say "in general" because Gemini VIII was quite functional despite tumbling end over end ...