It should be fairly easy to see the moon glinting of the ISS solar
panels.
Assuming the panels are facing the sun, then I think the conditions
are:
(a) Sun below horizon for observer
(b) Moon above horizon for ISS
(c) ISS in eclipse (=not illuminated by the sun)
(d) Angle sun/observer/ISS = 180deg - angle sun/observer/moon (approx)
and all in the same plane.
Thus tonight the moon is about 100deg from the sun, so the ISS would
would need to be about 80 deg from the sun (on the great circle
between sun and moon).
I suspect it is worth a look if the ISS passes within 10deg of the
ideal point in the sky, due to the variation in orientation of
different panels.
For a moon less than 50% illuminated, the reflection would be off
the sun-facing side of the panels, which should be quite shiny.
For a moon more than 50% illuminated, the reflection would be off
the side facing away from the sun.
Does anyone know how shiny this is?
Mike Waterman mike.waterman@marconi.com
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