iss visible pass

[spatchco]

on the web site heavens above,when i go out to look at the iss on the visible pass the iss appears to be directly overhead,but according to the ground track map the iss is over nothern france,thousand miles away how is this explained

[kempie]

I presume you are observing from the UK, which is a maximum few hundred miles from northern France and a ground distance traversed in about 1 minute by the ISS.

[kempie]

You can observe the ground track speed here...

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAI2X0VMOC_iss_0.htm l

[spatchco]

sorry i forgot to mention i am in Dublin, Ireland what i am trying to figure out is why it appears directly oh,but in fact its hundred of miles south

[kempie]

When did you view it overhead?

The most recent visible pass for Dublin was at an altitude of 65� above the horizon with a ground track approx. 110 miles south of the city.

http://www.heavens-above.com/gtrack.asp?date=3 9838.7879309144&lat=53.25&lng=-6.25&alt=0&loc= Dublin&TZ=GMT&satid=25544

For a track of say 400 miles south of Dublin the ISS will be at an altitude of around 30� above the horizon.

http://www.heavens-above.com/gtrack.asp?date=3 9846.7443721875&lat=53.25&lng=-6.25&alt=0&loc= Dublin&TZ=GMT&satid=25544

[spatchco]

kempie ,thank you for your replys,the last sighting was last night 25-1-09 on the 18-51 pass and indeed it did to me appear to be [nearly directly oh],thank you again