The Last Visible Passes of MIR Space Station from Nova Scotia

MIR Space Station Deorbited

 

After over 15 years of service and on its 86331st orbit of Earth Mir was deorbited March 23rd, 2001 over the South Pacific Ocean. Fragments surviving the firey plunge through the atmosphere would have entered the ocean over an area centred approximately at 44 degrees S and 150 degrees W.

 

The AP Photo on the left shows fragments of MIR

passing through the atmosphere near Fiji.

 

Personally I have probably observed a few hundred MIR passes since the first one I observed in 1987. I get a great satisfaction out of getting a prediction and matching it with an actual observation, often sharing the observing experience with others. It has added much to my understanding and appreciating satellite technology. It is an interest that has strengthened and developed over the years as the internet, computer software, shuttle visits to MIR and the International Space Station have become a reality.

 

I last observed MIR as it crossed the sky the evening of March 8th. The last predicted visible pass through N.S. skies was March 12, however, unfavourable weather prevented any further observations beyond March 8th. At that time I had a feeling it would be my last time to see MIR reflecting light my way. It was with some sadness that I bade farewell to MIR as it passed from view. The following is a quote from my journal entry on March 8th.

 

"Very clear night sky. Moon nearly full. Venus brilliant in the WSW also Jupiter and Saturn are eyecatching. MIR came into view about 19:41:30 AST, out of the west, passing above Venus. For nearly 3 minutes it climbed and brightened in a nice high arch just above Jupiter, reaching close to 60 degrees above the SW. Moments later (about 19:44) MIR dimmed suddenly as it entered Earth's shadow just above and east of Jupiter. The moment was shared with my good friend, Fred B, via our cell phones as Fred also observed MIR's pass from his location in Cambridge Woods."

 

Another unique MIR moment took place the evening of February 24th. when MIR and ISS were observed crossing the sky 2 minutes apart. Since ISS was launched in 1998 the two space stations were on opposite schedules: if MIR was seen in the evening sky, ISS would be in the morning sky. Their passes were always well spaced in time. As MIR's orbit was permitted to decay and fell into increasingly lower orbits, it was making more orbits in a day than ISS such that by end of February a MIR pass was getting close to leaving the sky as an ISS pass was entering the sky. Here is another journal entry taken from February 24th, 2001:

 

"Nice thin crescent Moon in WSW; Venus is dazzling and beautiful high in SW. Observed Mir pass from about 6:57 p.m. to 6:59 p.m., bright as Sirius; peak of pass 35 to 40 degrees above the SE. Observed ISS pass from 7:00:20 p.m. to 7:05:10 p.m. bright as Rigel and Betelgeuse but redder than Rigel. Good long pass out of the NW, reached maximum alt of 30 degrees above SW, brightest when above S to SSE.

 

This is an unique observation. I've never seen the two space stations pass that near in time to eash other before. Mir was no sooner leaving the sky (E), when, 2 minutes later, ISS was entering (NW). MIR and ISS actually crossed the same section of sky in the SE, about 6 minutes apart."

 

*URLs for further information on the orbit-decay and deorbiting of MIR.

The End is Mir http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast10mar_1.htm?list144556

http://www.heavens-above.com/main.asp

http://www.mirreentry.com/index.html

http://www.mirreentry.com/  

http://www.space.com/peopleinterviews/mir_trackers_citron_010220.html

http://www.space-frontier.org/PROJECTS/MIR/

MIR - Visible Passes (last predicted visible evening pass from Avonport)
 Search Period Start:  12:00 Sunday, 11 March, 2001
 Search Period End:    12:00 Wednesday, 21 March, 2001
 Observer's Location:  Avonport, Nova Scotia ( 45.1000°N, 64.2500°W)
 Local Time:           Atlantic Standard Time (GMT - 4:00)
 Orbit:                242 x 253 km, 51.6° (Epoch 11 Mar)
 
 
                    Starts           Max. Altitude             Ends
  Date  Mag
               Time    Alt.  Az.    Time    Alt.  Az.    Time    Alt.  Az.
 
 12
 Mar    2.1  19:07:52  10    WSW  19:08:23  10    SW   19:08:53  10    SSW
 

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Quoted from the website developed and maintained by Chris Peat, Heavens-Above http://www.heavens-above.com/main.asp

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