If the International Space Station will be visible in your skies over the next few days you will have the opportunity to see three spacecraft at once.
The ISS is in the process of un-docking with one Russian "Progress" vehicle and is being trailed by another waiting to re-supply the station.
THREE SPACESHIPS: On Tuesday, May 25th, the International Space Station will be flanked by two Russian Progress rockets. Progress 13, filled with
trash to be burned in Earth's atmosphere, has just undocked from the ISS and it's pulling away from the space station. Meanwhile, Progress 14,
carrying supplies from Earth, is chasing the ISS. It will dock on May 27th. From SpaceWeather.com
There are a number of ways to predict the orbit of the ISS (as well as other satellites) such as Chris Peat's
Heavens Above and NASA's J-Pass websites. Although the
station is viewable with the naked eye, binoculars are usually helpful. Backyard telescopes can be used to make out some details on the station.
My chance to see this event is in about three hours. It has been a beautiful, clear day today, but it is clouding up. Guess what the current forcast
is: "Isolated Thunderstorms," of course!