SM Sunset with INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) Viewing

Well this one's pretty simple... we'll hike to the top of Stone Mountain, watch the sunset, hang out for the next 27 minutes enjoying each other's company, and then watch the brightest man-made object in space wiz by for the next 6 minutes.

Wiz by?... that's right... it's zippin' along at 17,200 miles per hour!  That's even faster than "I" drive.  Brightest man-made object in space? Yep... it's the brightest object in the sky next to the sun and moon!  And if that's not enough to impress you, how about seeing $150 Billion speeding through space.  Yeah, that's 150,000,000,000 bucks.  But don't feel bad... your American tax dollars only contributed about $75,000,000,000.  How much does it weigh?... about 1 million lbs.  Only 6 minutes?... well, it travels around the earth 15.7 times each day, so that's about as long of a view as we will ever get from earth.  How big is it?... about the size of a football field - including end zones.  Yes, since we contributed more than any other country, it's measured in football fields (per NASA)... not soccer fields.

Alrighty... enough with the numbers... in laymans terms, it's big, it's fast, it's expensive, and it's cool.  So let's go watch it!

The hike (yes, there is a hike) will begin from the Confederate Center at 6:15 PM.  Sunset is at 7:06 PM and the ISS will come into view at 7:33 PM.

If you have a pair of binoculars you may want to bring them, to try and make out the details of the ISS.

Please take the time to look at the park map and parking options in order to be on time!

Any questions - please call or send me an email.

Directions To Confederate Hall Parking Lot:

To the main entrance- From I-285 take U.S. Hwy 78 East (Snellville/Athens) exit. Travel about 7 miles and take Exit 8, the Stone Mountain Park Main Entrance. After entering the main entrance, proceed straight ahead. The road will fork at about 1 mile - stay to the right. Continue to follow the road for another mile. Confederate Hall will be on your left. (Careful - there's a stop sign in front of Confederate Hall for those entering the West Gate.) The parking lot will be immediately after. Wait for the group near the walk up trail. 


MARTA PARK & RIDE LOT 
Free public parking in Stone Mountain Village

From Hwy 78 take exit 5 - stay right for a half mile - then a quick exit to E. Ponce/Stone Mtn. Village. At the end of the ramp turn left. Drive a mile or so into the village. Turn left at the light onto East Mountain. Turn right on Fifth Street. The Marta lot is closed, however, there is still parking outside the fence along 5th St.

There is a $10 daily parking fee to drive into Stone Mountain Park unless you have an annual pass.