Night sky promises a delight

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff writer

These clear nights may be frosty and a good reason to stay inside, but Mel Knutson also sees beauty in them and a reason to step out.

NASA's International Space Station is slated to fly over the North Idaho sky from 5:46 p.m. to 5:52 p.m. from the southwest to the northeast tonight.

On Saturday night it will fly over from 6:12 to 6:18 p.m., Sunday night from 6:38 to 6:43 and Monday from 7:05 to 7:08 p.m.

"If it's clear, the station should be really visible," said Post Falls' Mel Knutson, who has followed the ISS flights for several years as a hobby. "It should be about as bright as the moon. If you watch closely, you should be able to see the space shuttle trail behind it.

"This is one of the best places in the United States to watch it."

With 10-power binoculars, Knutson said he's able to make out details of the space station.

"What looks like black wings are the solar panels," he said.

Knutson said those with strong camera lenses can get good shots, but it's too hard to follow with a telescope.

"It's traveling at about 1,900 mph," he said.

A complete schedule in the following days can be found at www.heavens-above.com. Users to the site must register, but it's free.

The ISS doesn't follow the same orbit every night. - Brian Walker