Space Shuttle Visible
International Space Station and the Space Shuttle visible from Chicago this evening (weather permitting) for 6 minutes.
We know from past experience that many of you may be interested is watching the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle move across Chicago area skies and want to provide you information on how to see it. Our astronomer Dan Joyce tells us the following is to be the sequence of events this (Wednesday) evening if you wish to view the southeast-moving International Space Station and the Space Shuttle from Chicago over a short 6 minute span.
6:43 P.M.: The International Space Station, a small moving object in the sky a little larger than a planet, will appear just above the west/northwest horizon at 6:43 p.m. moving southeastward.
6: 44 P.M. The Space Shuttle follows a minute later moving in the same direction
6:46 P.M. The International Space Station move to a position 26-degrees above the horizon—its highest point in the sky
6:49 P.M. The Space Shuttle sinks below the south/southeast horizon
Some areas of lake effect clouds, similar to those in the city as this is posted at 11:30 a.m. are expected to continue from time to time this afternoon and evening over extreme northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana and represent the only potential threat to viewing over sections of the Chicago metro area. But in areas farther west of Lake Michigan, clear viewing is expected. Clouds are expected to begin arriving -- but later tonight.
Tom Skilling
WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune Chief Meteorologist