The Falcon 9 rocket, which will launch over 100 satellites into low Earth orbit on Friday, including the largest Polish satellite to date, EagleEye, will be visible over Poland. Check what time you will be able to observe this space event.
Falcon 9 to launch Polish satellite EagleEye into orbit
Tonight, residents of Poland will have the opportunity to see an unusual and spectacular event in the sky – the flight of a Falcon 9 rocket with over a hundred satellites on board. The launch of this SpaceX mission is planned for 20:19 Polish time from the Vandenberg base in California. The aim of the flight will be to place a group of satellites in orbit, and one of the most important for us is the Polish satellite EagleEye, manufactured by Creotech and Scanway, the largest satellite manufactured in Poland to date.
This particular event will have an additional visual value for observers in Europe, because about 70 minutes after the rocket’s launch, its flight will be visible in the sky over Poland. Interestingly, the flight over Europe will coincide with the release of the satellites, which makes it a unique spectacle. The Falcon 9 rocket is estimated to appear in the Polish sky between 21:33 and 21:39. At that time, the second stage of the rocket will fly at an altitude of about 45° above the eastern horizon – especially visible in central Poland. In the eastern regions, the rocket will be higher in the sky, while in the west the sky will be brighter, which may make observation more difficult.
The flight path will be from south to north, as the Falcon second stage will be in a polar orbit. Earth’s shadow, which can make observations difficult, will be crossed near the constellation of Aquarius, and then the rocket will head toward Pegasus and Cassiopeia, well-known star formations that will provide additional landmarks for observers.
For fans of astronomy and space technology, tonight is not only a chance to observe a rocket, but also a chance to admire the success of the Polish space industry. EagleEye, which flies on board Falcon, is a satellite of strategic importance for the further development of Polish space research. It will be used for research and observation purposes, and its mission is a breakthrough in Polish space activities. It has been equipped with a Scanway telescope, which will allow for taking pictures of the Earth’s surface in visible and near-infrared bands.
For those planning to observe, it is worth preparing for it in advance. Although Falcon 9 will be visible to the naked eye, it may be a good idea to use binoculars, which will allow you to see the details of the flight better. The weather will also play a key role – residents of eastern and central Poland can count on better weather conditions than those in the western part of the country, where the sky may be more bright, which will make observation more difficult.
It is worth adding that the flight of a rocket with satellites is only one part of a larger phenomenon. Recently, the sky has provided us with many interesting spectacles, including numerous flights of Starlink satellites and spectacular meteor showers. Today’s event is part of this trend, providing another opportunity to be fascinated by space.
Source: With your head in the stars
