The Russian space station Mir will be at its spectacular best for earthlings who wish to view it cross the late evening sky in coming days. The Mir flight path will be closer to Earth than it has ever been. Weather permitting, the station will appear as an extremely bright star some time between 9.30 p.m. and midnight. It will move left to right to the observer facing south and tonight will appear to pass close to the moon, even though they are 250,000 miles apart.
Subject to good weather, Mir will be visible for one or two minutes while high overhead. The moon will play its part in illuminating the 120-tonne object regarded by some as space junk.
Many others have a sneaking regard for the fact that it has survived 14 years, even though it was only supposed to last five. It has acted as a wonderful link with outer space for a great many people who viewed it in the past, and a particular source of fascination for children.
Astronomy Ireland is issuing flight predictions each day for the public (available after midday). Callers in the Republic should call 1550-111-442 and in Northern Ireland 089188-1950. Calls cost 58p a minute but the prediction is given at the start of the newsline recording.
Mr David Moore of Astronomy Ireland said: "You won't mistake Mir once the exact minute comes along. It will be an extremely bright object blazing high in the sky."
The cash-starved Russian space programme had planned to let Mir pass so close to Earth this month that it would burn up. It costs a lot of money to boost its path enough to counter the gradual fall to wards Earth. However, Mir's ability to encapsulate human kind's fascination with space and overcome problems have again asserted themselves.
With the benefit of more than $30 million from a US company, MirCorp, the currently unoccupied station is being "kept alive" until a space safari is completed. US businessman Mr Dennis Tito is due next year to become what MirCorp terms the first "citizen explorer" to visit Mir.
Unfortunately, the weather may not oblige would-be viewers of Mir before the weekend, according to Met Eireann. Conditions are likely to be cloudy, although there is a possibility of cloud breaking up in some places.
