Updated Monday, 10-06-1997 @ 06:55 EDT.
Mir transits were calculated from elements provided at "ftp://archive.afit.af.mil/pub/space/tle.067". The following predictions are valid for a terrestrial latitude of 36.7 North, longitude -76.3 West, the location of Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. All times given are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
On 09/25, civil twilight begins at 6:26 a.m., sunrise occurs at 6:57 a.m.
(Mir) Thursday, 09/25/97. A north to east transit from 5:42 to 5:44 a.m. Peak elevation will occur in the northeastern sky at 5:43, about 26 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 384 km.
Result - Overcast with rain.
(Mir) Thursday, 09/25/97. A south to southeast transit from 10:16 to 10:17 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the southeastern sky at 10:17, about 23 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 388 km. Note - Mir will not visible during this pass - for reference only).
Note - Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch from KSC on 09/25 at 10:34 p.m. The launch window is open up to 10 minutes after the beginning 10:34 p.m. launch time. This mission will ascend into a 51.6 degree orbit to rendezvous with the Russian Space Station Mir.
Result - Overcast with fog.
The 51.6 degree orbit inclination will bring Atlantis up the US East Coast about 200 miles east of the Virginia Capes during the boost phase. The launch plumes of the Shuttle main engines can be observed low in the southeastern sky approximately 5 minutes after liftoff and ending in the east-north-east, about 3 minutes later. Shuttle Atlantis will reach a maximum elevation of about 20 degrees in the east-south-east sky about 7 minutes after launch. The solid rocket boosters will have been jettisoned only two minutes into the flight and will not be seen from our area.
The Shuttle engine plumes are distinctly orange-red and directed downward about 30 degrees with respect to the direction of ascent. The plumes have been observed as unsteady and flashing irregularly. The estimated brilliance of the Shuttle engine plumes are approximately one-fourth that of Jupiter (which is in the southern sky at this time). The engine plumes disappear at main engine cutoff about eight minutes after liftoff. About 20 seconds later another bright flash occurrs, this is the jettisoning of the external tank. No further observations of the boost phase are possible.
Binoculars are recommended to present a greater detailed view of the Shuttle engine plume shape and colors. Naked-eye observations are possible however without any telescopic aids. A dark viewing area with an unobstructed view of the southeastern sky is recommended.
(Mir) Friday, 09/26/97. A west to southeast transit from 6:20 to 6:23 a.m. Peak elevation will occur in the southwestern sky at 6:21, about 57 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 384 km. Note - Atlantis may be trailing Mir by approximately 10-15 minutes.
Result - Overcast with fog. Revolution 3 elements provided by Ken Ernandes indicated that Shuttle Atlantis crossed the peak of the southwest sky at 06:35:40, about 14 minutes after Mir.
(Mir) Saturday, 09/27/97. A northwest to east transit from 5:22 to 5:25 a.m. Peak elevation will occur in the northeastern sky at 5:23, about 50 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 384 km. Note - Atlantis may be trailing Mir by approximately 1-5 minutes.
Result - Mir was observed on time. Shuttle Atlantis appeared in the same orbit plane approximately 4.5 minutes later at 05:26:20.
Note - Planned Mir-Atlantis docking time: Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m.
(Mir & Atlantis) Sunday, 09/28/97. A west to south transit from 6:01 to 6:02 a.m. Peak elevation will occur in the southwestern sky at 6:01, about 25 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 384 km.
Result - Overcast with rain.
On 09/30, sunset occurs at 6:50 p.m., civil twilight begins at 7:23 p.m.
(Mir & Atlantis) Thursday, 10/02/97. A southwest to northeast transit from 8:17 to 8:21 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the northern sky at 8:19, about 84 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 388 km.
Result - Mir and Atlantis observed on time. Both vehicles entered earth shadow directly overhead.
Note - Planned Atlantis undocking time: Oct. 3 at 11:46 a.m.
(Mir) Friday, 10/03/97. A south to east transit from 7:20 to 7:22 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the southeastern sky at 7:21, about 33 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 389 km. Note - Atlantis may be leading Mir by 1-5 minutes.
Result - Atlantis observed by James Liles and Jim Hallissy to be leading Mir by 20 seconds. This was described as a spectacular sight.
(Mir) Saturday, 10/04/97. A west to northeast transit from 7:58 to 8:01 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the northwestern sky at 7:59, about 39 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 388 km. Note - Atlantis may be leading Mir by 5-10 minutes.
Result - Atlantis observed crossing above Polaris at 07:50:05 and fading into earth shadow at 07:52:40. Mir crossed Polaris at 08:02:10 and faded into earth shadow at 08:04:25. Atlantis was leading Mir by 12 minutes, 5 seconds.
(Mir) Sunday, 10/05/97. A southwest to northeast transit from 6:59 to 7:03 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the southeastern sky at 7:01, about 77 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 389 km. Note - Atlantis may be leading Mir by 10-15 minutes.
Result - Missed opportunity.
(Mir) Monday, 10/06/97. A northwest to north transit from 7:39 to 7:40 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the northern sky at 7:40, about 22 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 388 km.
Note - Next Atlantis Target KSC landing Date/Time: Monday Oct. 6 at 5:55 p.m.
(Mir) Tuesday, 10/07/97. A west to northeast transit from 6:40 to 6:43 p.m. Peak elevation will occur in the northwestern sky at 6:41, about 47 degrees above the horizon. Orbital altitude 389 km.