International Space Station Trail
Credit & Copyright:
Doug Murray
Still under construction, the
International
Space Station is becoming one
of
the brightest, fastest moving "stars" in the heavens.
Despite illuminated clouds and bright light from a
nearly full moon (lower left),
this 5 minute time exposure easily captures
the Space Station's trail as it arcs through early evening skies
above Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
on December 9.
At the time,
the
Space Shuttle Endeavour had undocked
and moved away from the orbiting platform,
the shuttle crew having just completed
the installation
of large solar panels to power the Space Station's systems.
Sunlight glinting off the large, shiny panels is likely the source
of the brief flare visible along the track.
Astrophotographer Doug Murray and colleague report that both
Shuttle and Space Station
were
visible separately and on
close inspection
of this image they do produce distinct, parallel arcs.
At the extreme right hand edge of the picture,
the
trails pass
very near the brightest "star" in the night sky,
Venus.