Taking the dog out to pee in the early morning when still dark.
I look up and see a plane and beyond that something else is sliding across the sky.
A satellite – cool – that is not a plane.
How do you know?
- Looks like a star moving at the speed of a plane*
*(yes turbo geeks – I know it is much faster and much higher up than a plane – but those ratios line up to make it “appear” the same speed to the observer. Everything is relative – Einstein said that!!! So there!)
- No flashing lights on a satellite.
That is it people — You are a satellite hunter – go forth and catch one!
There is a great website where you can track these things.
You put in your location and then you get a map with predictions of all the things that orbit bright enough to see– this means I could check the chart and find out that a soviet rocket body launched in 1984 just flew over me and my dog.
Hint: If it is straight up in the sky above your head — you are looking for the magic 80 degree number to help you narrow it down.
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I drew my little not to scale map because it got me thinking how I look from up there – A random non-descript person with a huskie/corgi dog. Outside looking up – The sun has to be at the right angle to light this rocket for me to catch it. I am alive on the planet earth. I am somebody and me and my dog are ok.
This is a big deal – to realize how special it is to be involved in the grand scheme of the universe in a moment. Which by the way — is every single moment!
We only get so many of them.
I am a lucky man.
I am.
Notes: My next post will be the cave re-launch post – I am trying something new which means fixing all the typos and glitches before I publish.
Thanks for the support and happy existing everyone!
Cave of Fame 
Cool drawing and fun post with such a. Ice ending to enjoy the gift of the moments we have!! Well said
Thank you very much – what else do we have but moments?
Well we also have lots of space junk! Hah
good point!
Have a good week
Your drawing always make me smile and your humor always gets a chuckle from me :).
Thanks Mandi!
Keep looking up Wayne!
I am Cheryl – I am
When I saw your pic, I laughed internally about it not being to scale and had a feeling you’d mention it and you did, so it made me laugh a little more- went from an internal laugh to the kind of laugh that sounds like you are clearing your nose haha. I’ll check out heavens above- that is cool! This scale of the universe site is pretty cool- one of my most favourite things I have ever seen online:
http://htwins.net/scale2/
I think they are trying to sell an app with it now (and why not? they deserve reward for creating such an amazing tool- so be patient with the link to get it to actually work and not direct you to a site to buy the app (unless you really want to). Enjoy!
I will check it out thanks – see that about the “scale” I am not that difficult to figure out if you hang around the cave a bit, great to make people laugh again with my posts — long time coming Mek — And I am in the process of picking out a painting – it will be a surprise! 🙂
Haha. Looking forward to the big reveal!
I’ve seen a few satellites before, up at the cottage, on a clear night. But oh how I wished they were aliens.
It’s been a while since I noticed things like this Mike – a good sign!
I think so! I like looking at the stars etc but we don’t do it enough.