This morning my wife and I also saw Atlantis and Mir appear out of shadow between the pointers (Merak and Dubhe), the shuttle leading Mir by about 23 seconds; Atlantis was about 2-2 1/2 magnitude (like Merak) and Mir about 1st magnitude (like Deneb). This is the first shuttle mission in which we were able to see the objects separately prior to docking, together when docked, and separate after undocking. (And, except for some trees, we might have been able to see STS-84 on its way up :( ) Now if only they'd schedule their water (or whatever) dumps while over the NE USA! Clear and dark skies! Ed Light Edward S. Light Lakewood, NJ, USA N 40.107, W 074.232, Hgt +21m