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Thursday, December 12, 2019

 

An unusual series of Bright ISS passes (14-19 December, 2019)

The ISS just before it enters Earth's shadow as seen from Sydney on the evening of Saturday 14 December  at 22:38 AEDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen.The ISS  before it enters Earth's shadow as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Saturday 14 December  at at 22:38 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen.The ISS passes close to Canopus, as seen from Perth on the evening of Saturday 14 December at 21:13 AWST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot)click to embiggen.
All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Saturday 14 December  for Sydney.All sky chart showing local  times from Heavens Above for Saturday 14 December for Adelaide.All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Saturday 14 December for Perth.

Over the next few days there are a series of  bright ISS passes in the early evening where you get to see something not exactly common. The ISS entering and leaving the Earths shadow. Seeing the ISS wink out as it slides into earths shadow is relatively common, but to see it reappear again is much rarer. This will be  seen on the 14th for most of the east coast and south Australia. 

Aside from this, on the 15 the ISS passs through Orion in many cities, there are some close bright star passes and from Brisbane there is a close pass to Venu on the 16th. 

The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above.

Passes from Adelaide (ACDST)

Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type
(mag) Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
12 Dec-0.505:27:2910°S05:29:1613°SSE05:31:0310°ESEvisible
14 Dec-0.300:34:5112°SSW00:35:0312°SSW00:36:2510°Svisible
14 Dec-1.305:26:1510°SSW05:29:1728°SE05:32:1610°Evisible
14 Dec-3.322:05:5610°NNW22:10:0044°E22:12:3910°SEvisible
14 Dec-0.723:43:5510°WSW23:46:1617°SSW23:48:3710°SSEvisible
15 Dec-0.604:38:0510°SSW04:40:3518°SSE04:43:0310°ESEvisible
15 Dec-2.821:17:5210°NNW21:20:5028°NE21:23:4910°ESEvisible
15 Dec-1.422:54:3610°W22:57:3226°SW23:00:3010°SSEvisible
16 Dec-0.303:50:1010°S03:51:4813°SSE03:53:2610°SEvisible
16 Dec-3.705:25:3410°SW05:29:0087°SE05:32:2210°NEvisible
16 Dec-2.422:05:3610°WNW22:08:5243°SW22:12:1110°SEvisible
17 Dec-2.504:37:0610°SW04:40:2545°SE04:43:4110°ENEvisible
17 Dec-3.621:16:5210°NW21:20:1783°SW21:23:4310°SEvisible
17 Dec-0.222:55:5510°SW22:57:2913°SSW22:59:0410°Svisible
18 Dec-1.403:48:4610°SSW03:51:4426°SE03:54:4010°Evisible
18 Dec-2.705:25:3110°WSW05:28:2626°NW05:31:1810°Nvisible
18 Dec-0.622:06:1310°WSW22:08:4018°SSW22:11:0910°SSEvisible
19 Dec-0.703:00:3610°SSW03:02:5917°SSE03:05:2210°ESEvisible
19 Dec-3.704:36:3710°WSW04:39:5752°NW04:43:1410°NNEvisible
19 Dec-1.321:16:5510°W21:19:5528°SW21:22:5710°SSEvisible
20 Dec-0.302:12:4310°S02:14:0912°SSE02:15:3610°SEvisible
20 Dec-3.703:47:5810°SW03:51:2378°SE03:54:4610°NEvisible
21 Dec-0.702:59:2910°SW02:59:4311°SSW02:59:4311°SSWvisible
21 Dec-0.421:18:0010°WSW21:19:4513°SSW21:21:3210°Svisible


Passes from Brisbane (AEST)

Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type
(mag) Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
14 Dec-3.520:00:2810°NNW20:03:4346°NE20:03:5545°ENEvisible
14 Dec-0.421:39:5912°SW21:40:3813°SW21:42:1710°Svisible
15 Dec-0.904:11:5210°SSW04:14:4023°SE04:17:2610°Evisible
15 Dec-2.519:12:3910°N19:15:2022°NE19:18:0310°ESEvisible
15 Dec-1.120:49:1510°W20:51:5922°SW20:54:4310°SSEvisible
16 Dec-0.303:24:1310°S03:26:0214°SE03:27:4910°ESEvisible
16 Dec-2.320:00:1010°WNW20:03:2341°SW20:06:4010°SSEvisible
17 Dec-3.704:11:0210°SW04:14:2887°ESE04:17:4810°NEvisible
17 Dec-3.719:11:2810°NW19:14:5288°SW19:18:1810°SEvisible
18 Dec-2.303:22:4110°SSW03:25:5540°SE03:29:0710°ENEvisible
18 Dec-0.320:01:2410°WSW20:03:1614°SW20:05:1010°Svisible
19 Dec-1.102:34:3610°SSW02:37:1821°SE02:39:5810°Evisible
19 Dec-2.504:11:1610°WSW04:13:5622°NW04:16:3610°Nvisible
19 Dec-0.919:11:4610°W19:14:3524°SW19:17:2610°SSEvisible
20 Dec-0.301:47:0210°S01:48:3713°SE01:50:1010°ESEvisible
20 Dec-3.603:22:1510°SW03:25:3146°NW03:28:4410°NNEvisible


Passesfrom Darwin (ACDT)

Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type
(mag) Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
14 Dec-1.819:25:4810°NNE19:27:1012°NE19:28:3210°Evisible
14 Dec-1.321:00:5210°WNW21:03:4024°SW21:06:2910°Svisible
15 Dec-3.020:11:5210°NW20:15:1056°SW20:18:3110°SSEvisible
17 Dec-0.505:18:1310°S05:20:3318°SE05:22:5310°Evisible
17 Dec-0.220:13:1510°WSW20:14:5413°SW20:16:3410°SSWvisible
19 Dec-3.805:16:5110°SW05:20:1385°ESE05:23:3210°NEvisible
20 Dec-2.004:28:3710°SSW04:31:4233°SE04:34:4510°ENEvisible


Passes from Hobart (AEDST)

Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type
(mag) Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
12 Dec-2.501:08:0342°S01:08:0342°S01:11:0110°SEvisible
12 Dec-1.002:42:2710°SW02:45:0420°S02:47:4010°SEvisible
12 Dec-1.204:19:4910°SW04:22:3923°SSE04:25:2910°ESEvisible
13 Dec-2.400:20:2535°SE00:20:2535°SE00:22:3610°SEvisible
13 Dec-1.201:53:3710°WSW01:56:2322°SSW01:59:0910°SEvisible
13 Dec-0.903:31:1910°SW03:33:5920°S03:36:3810°ESEvisible
13 Dec-2.423:32:1031°ESE23:32:1031°ESE23:34:0710°ESEvisible
14 Dec-1.501:04:5511°WSW01:07:4326°SSW01:10:4110°SEvisible
14 Dec-0.802:42:4410°SW02:45:1719°S02:47:4910°SEvisible
14 Dec-2.004:19:3110°SW04:22:4436°SSE04:25:5510°Evisible
14 Dec-3.522:39:5918°NNW22:42:1444°NE22:45:3310°ESEvisible
15 Dec-2.000:15:5310°W00:19:0433°SSW00:22:1510°SEvisible
15 Dec-0.801:54:0010°SW01:56:3319°S01:59:0510°SEvisible
15 Dec-1.403:31:0510°SW03:34:0628°SSE03:37:0610°Evisible
15 Dec-2.721:50:5710°NNW21:53:5226°NE21:56:4710°ESEvisible
15 Dec-2.723:27:0810°WNW23:30:2747°SSW23:33:5010°SEvisible
16 Dec-0.901:05:1110°WSW01:07:4920°S01:10:2710°SEvisible
16 Dec-1.102:42:3610°SW02:45:2523°SSE02:48:1310°ESEvisible
16 Dec-3.504:19:0910°SW04:22:3577°SSE04:26:0010°ENEvisible
16 Dec-3.522:38:2810°WNW22:41:5472°SSW22:45:2110°SEvisible
17 Dec-1.100:16:1810°WSW00:19:0622°SSW00:21:5410°SEvisible
17 Dec-0.901:54:0210°SW01:56:4220°S01:59:2010°ESEvisible
17 Dec-2.703:30:4010°SW03:34:0249°SSE03:37:2110°ENEvisible
17 Dec-3.821:49:5810°NW21:53:2370°NE21:56:5010°ESEvisible
17 Dec-1.423:27:2310°WSW23:30:2327°SSW23:33:2410°SEvisible
18 Dec-0.801:05:2310°SW01:07:5719°S01:10:2910°SEvisible
18 Dec-2.002:42:1210°SW02:45:2535°SSE02:48:3510°Evisible
18 Dec-3.304:18:5710°WSW04:22:1240°NW04:25:2510°NNEvisible
18 Dec-1.922:38:3010°W22:41:4335°SSW22:44:5610°SEvisible
19 Dec-0.800:16:3710°SW00:19:1119°S00:21:4310°SEvisible
19 Dec-1.501:53:4410°SW01:56:4327°SSE01:59:4210°ESEvisible
19 Dec-3.903:30:1910°WSW03:33:4470°NW03:37:0710°NEvisible
19 Dec-2.621:49:4210°WNW21:53:0450°SSW21:56:2710°SEvisible
19 Dec-0.923:27:4510°WSW23:30:2420°S23:33:0310°SEvisible
20 Dec-1.101:05:1210°SW01:08:0022°SSE01:10:4610°ESEvisible
20 Dec-3.502:41:4510°SW02:45:1272°SSE02:48:3610°ENEvisible
20 Dec-2.104:19:2510°W04:21:3416°NW04:23:4110°Nvisible
20 Dec-1.122:38:4810°WSW22:41:3823°SSW22:44:2910°SEvisible
21 Dec-0.900:16:3610°SW00:19:1420°S00:21:5110°ESEvisible
21 Dec-2.701:53:1410°SW01:56:3546°SSE01:57:2637°ESEvisible
21 Dec-1.421:49:5110°W21:52:5328°SSW21:55:5610°SEvisible
21 Dec-0.923:27:5310°SW23:30:2619°S23:32:5810°SEvisible


Passes from Melbourne (AEDST)

Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type
(mag) Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
12 Dec-0.801:08:0418°S01:08:0418°S01:09:2810°SSEvisible
13 Dec-0.900:20:2515°SSE00:20:2515°SSE00:21:1410°SEvisible
13 Dec-0.301:54:4010°SSW01:55:3411°SSW01:56:2810°Svisible
13 Dec-0.805:08:4910°SSW05:11:3021°SSE05:14:0910°ESEvisible
13 Dec-1.123:32:1015°SE23:32:1015°SE23:32:5310°SEvisible
14 Dec-0.401:04:5910°SW01:06:4813°SSW01:08:3610°SSEvisible
14 Dec-0.504:20:4110°SSW04:22:4815°SSE04:24:5510°ESEvisible
14 Dec-3.922:37:3410°NW22:40:5974°NE22:44:2510°SEvisible
15 Dec-0.800:15:3810°WSW00:18:0418°SSW00:20:3110°SSEvisible
15 Dec-0.303:32:3910°S03:34:0212°SSE03:35:2510°SEvisible
15 Dec-2.405:08:1010°SW05:11:3045°SE05:14:4510°ENEvisible
15 Dec-3.321:49:2110°NNW21:52:3339°NE21:55:4710°ESEvisible
15 Dec-1.323:26:2910°W23:29:2225°SSW23:32:1810°SSEvisible
16 Dec-1.504:19:5110°SSW04:22:5328°SSE04:25:5410°Evisible
16 Dec-2.222:37:3010°WNW22:40:4538°SSW22:44:0010°SEvisible
17 Dec0.000:17:1210°SSW00:18:1611°SSW00:19:2110°Svisible
17 Dec-0.803:31:3610°SSW03:34:1320°SSE03:36:4810°ESEvisible
17 Dec-3.705:07:5010°WSW05:11:1258°NW05:14:3110°NEvisible
17 Dec-3.321:48:4610°WNW21:52:1066°SW21:55:3610°SEvisible
17 Dec-0.323:27:3310°SW23:29:2814°SSW23:31:2310°SSEvisible
18 Dec-0.402:43:2610°SSW02:45:2815°SSE02:47:2910°ESEvisible
18 Dec-3.604:19:1610°SW04:22:4375°SE04:26:0510°NEvisible
18 Dec-0.722:38:1110°WSW22:40:4119°SSW22:43:1310°SSEvisible
19 Dec-0.101:55:2310°S01:56:3912°SSE01:57:5510°SEvisible
19 Dec-2.403:30:5010°SW03:34:0842°SE03:37:2310°ENEvisible
19 Dec-2.305:08:1110°W05:10:3919°NW05:13:0510°Nvisible
19 Dec-1.221:49:0010°W21:51:5726°SSW21:54:5710°SSEvisible
20 Dec-1.502:42:2910°SSW02:45:2827°SSE02:48:2610°Evisible
20 Dec-3.104:19:0710°WSW04:22:1534°NW04:25:2010°NNEvisible
20 Dec-0.322:39:3310°SW22:40:4811°SSW22:42:0210°Svisible
21 Dec-1.001:54:1210°SSW01:56:4519°SSE01:57:2618°SEvisible
21 Dec-0.521:49:5510°WSW21:51:5715°SSW21:53:5810°SSEvisible


Passes from Perth (AWST)

Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type
(mag) Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az.
14 Dec-0.704:30:0910°SSW04:32:5121°SE04:35:3010°Evisible
14 Dec-3.821:08:2610°NW21:11:5088°SW21:15:1710°SEvisible
14 Dec-0.222:48:0710°SW22:49:0211°SSW22:49:5610°SSWvisible
15 Dec-0.303:42:2210°S03:44:1013°SSE03:45:5610°ESEvisible
15 Dec-3.420:20:0910°NNW20:23:2444°NE20:26:4110°ESEvisible
15 Dec-0.621:58:0010°WSW22:00:1817°SW22:02:3610°Svisible
16 Dec-3.204:29:2010°SW04:32:4364°SE04:36:0410°NEvisible
16 Dec-1.421:08:4010°W21:11:3827°SW21:14:3710°SSEvisible
17 Dec-1.803:41:0110°SSW03:44:0933°SE03:47:1510°ENEvisible
17 Dec-2.620:19:4310°WNW20:23:0248°SW20:26:2310°SEvisible
18 Dec-0.902:52:5610°SSW02:55:3020°SE02:58:0510°Evisible
18 Dec-3.004:29:1310°WSW04:32:1832°NW04:35:2010°NNEvisible
18 Dec-0.121:10:2410°SW21:11:3811°SSW21:12:5210°Svisible
19 Dec-0.302:05:1110°S02:06:4713°SSE02:08:2210°ESEvisible
19 Dec-3.903:40:2710°SW03:43:5169°NW03:47:1110°NEvisible
19 Dec-0.520:20:2810°W20:22:5318°SW20:25:1910°Svisible
20 Dec-2.802:51:5710°SW02:57:2620°ENE02:58:3910°ENEvisible


Passes from Sydney (AEDST)

13 Dec-0.100:20:2410°S00:20:2410°S00:20:2910°Svisible
13 Dec-0.523:32:0712°SSE23:32:0712°SSE23:32:3510°SSEvisible
14 Dec-0.304:23:0110°S04:24:2712°SSE04:25:5410°SEvisible
14 Dec-2.121:02:1110°N21:08:26ESE21:03:4517°NNEvisible
14 Dec-2.022:38:0610°WNW22:41:1433°SW22:44:2410°SSEvisible
15 Dec-3.221:49:1510°WNW21:52:3861°SW21:56:0310°SEvisible
15 Dec0.023:29:4810°SSW23:29:5710°SSW23:30:0610°SSWvisible
16 Dec-1.304:21:3010°SSW04:24:2626°SE04:27:2110°Evisible
16 Dec-3.821:00:4210°NW21:04:0567°NE21:07:3010°SEvisible
16 Dec-0.422:39:0710°WSW22:41:0815°SSW22:43:0910°Svisible
17 Dec-0.503:33:2310°SSW03:35:4317°SSE03:38:0110°ESEvisible
17 Dec-1.021:49:3710°W21:52:2222°SW21:55:0810°SSEvisible
18 Dec-0.102:45:4110°S02:46:5411°SSE02:48:0710°SEvisible
18 Dec-3.704:20:4210°SW04:24:0780°SE04:27:3010°NEvisible
18 Dec-1.921:00:2910°WNW21:03:4036°SW21:06:5310°SSEvisible
19 Dec-2.403:32:1510°SSW03:35:3141°SE03:38:4410°ENEvisible
19 Dec-2.005:09:5710°W05:11:5715°NW05:13:5610°NNWvisible
19 Dec-0.121:51:2910°SW21:52:1811°SSW21:53:0910°SSWvisible
20 Dec-1.402:43:5710°SSW02:46:4924°SE02:49:3910°Evisible
20 Dec-2.904:20:3310°WSW04:23:3228°NW04:26:2710°Nvisible
20 Dec-0.521:01:1810°WSW21:03:2716°SSW21:05:3710°Svisible
21 Dec-0.501:55:5010°S01:56:5914°S01:56:5914°Svisible


When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use either Heavens Above or CalSky to get site specific predictions for your location, a small difference in location can mean the difference between the ISS passing over a star or planet or missing it completely. As always, start looking several minutes before the pass is going to start to get yourself oriented and your eyes dark adapted. Be patient, there may be slight differences in the time of the ISS appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.

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