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

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
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
12 Dec	-0.5	05:27:29	10°	S	05:29:16	13°	SSE	05:31:03	10°	ESE	visible
14 Dec	-0.3	00:34:51	12°	SSW	00:35:03	12°	SSW	00:36:25	10°	S	visible
14 Dec	-1.3	05:26:15	10°	SSW	05:29:17	28°	SE	05:32:16	10°	E	visible
14 Dec	-3.3	22:05:56	10°	NNW	22:10:00	44°	E	22:12:39	10°	SE	visible
14 Dec	-0.7	23:43:55	10°	WSW	23:46:16	17°	SSW	23:48:37	10°	SSE	visible
15 Dec	-0.6	04:38:05	10°	SSW	04:40:35	18°	SSE	04:43:03	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-2.8	21:17:52	10°	NNW	21:20:50	28°	NE	21:23:49	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-1.4	22:54:36	10°	W	22:57:32	26°	SW	23:00:30	10°	SSE	visible
16 Dec	-0.3	03:50:10	10°	S	03:51:48	13°	SSE	03:53:26	10°	SE	visible
16 Dec	-3.7	05:25:34	10°	SW	05:29:00	87°	SE	05:32:22	10°	NE	visible
16 Dec	-2.4	22:05:36	10°	WNW	22:08:52	43°	SW	22:12:11	10°	SE	visible
17 Dec	-2.5	04:37:06	10°	SW	04:40:25	45°	SE	04:43:41	10°	ENE	visible
17 Dec	-3.6	21:16:52	10°	NW	21:20:17	83°	SW	21:23:43	10°	SE	visible
17 Dec	-0.2	22:55:55	10°	SW	22:57:29	13°	SSW	22:59:04	10°	S	visible
18 Dec	-1.4	03:48:46	10°	SSW	03:51:44	26°	SE	03:54:40	10°	E	visible
18 Dec	-2.7	05:25:31	10°	WSW	05:28:26	26°	NW	05:31:18	10°	N	visible
18 Dec	-0.6	22:06:13	10°	WSW	22:08:40	18°	SSW	22:11:09	10°	SSE	visible
19 Dec	-0.7	03:00:36	10°	SSW	03:02:59	17°	SSE	03:05:22	10°	ESE	visible
19 Dec	-3.7	04:36:37	10°	WSW	04:39:57	52°	NW	04:43:14	10°	NNE	visible
19 Dec	-1.3	21:16:55	10°	W	21:19:55	28°	SW	21:22:57	10°	SSE	visible
20 Dec	-0.3	02:12:43	10°	S	02:14:09	12°	SSE	02:15:36	10°	SE	visible
20 Dec	-3.7	03:47:58	10°	SW	03:51:23	78°	SE	03:54:46	10°	NE	visible
21 Dec	-0.7	02:59:29	10°	SW	02:59:43	11°	SSW	02:59:43	11°	SSW	visible
21 Dec	-0.4	21:18:00	10°	WSW	21:19:45	13°	SSW	21:21:32	10°	S	visible

Passes from Brisbane (AEST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
14 Dec	-3.5	20:00:28	10°	NNW	20:03:43	46°	NE	20:03:55	45°	ENE	visible
14 Dec	-0.4	21:39:59	12°	SW	21:40:38	13°	SW	21:42:17	10°	S	visible
15 Dec	-0.9	04:11:52	10°	SSW	04:14:40	23°	SE	04:17:26	10°	E	visible
15 Dec	-2.5	19:12:39	10°	N	19:15:20	22°	NE	19:18:03	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-1.1	20:49:15	10°	W	20:51:59	22°	SW	20:54:43	10°	SSE	visible
16 Dec	-0.3	03:24:13	10°	S	03:26:02	14°	SE	03:27:49	10°	ESE	visible
16 Dec	-2.3	20:00:10	10°	WNW	20:03:23	41°	SW	20:06:40	10°	SSE	visible
17 Dec	-3.7	04:11:02	10°	SW	04:14:28	87°	ESE	04:17:48	10°	NE	visible
17 Dec	-3.7	19:11:28	10°	NW	19:14:52	88°	SW	19:18:18	10°	SE	visible
18 Dec	-2.3	03:22:41	10°	SSW	03:25:55	40°	SE	03:29:07	10°	ENE	visible
18 Dec	-0.3	20:01:24	10°	WSW	20:03:16	14°	SW	20:05:10	10°	S	visible
19 Dec	-1.1	02:34:36	10°	SSW	02:37:18	21°	SE	02:39:58	10°	E	visible
19 Dec	-2.5	04:11:16	10°	WSW	04:13:56	22°	NW	04:16:36	10°	N	visible
19 Dec	-0.9	19:11:46	10°	W	19:14:35	24°	SW	19:17:26	10°	SSE	visible
20 Dec	-0.3	01:47:02	10°	S	01:48:37	13°	SE	01:50:10	10°	ESE	visible
20 Dec	-3.6	03:22:15	10°	SW	03:25:31	46°	NW	03:28:44	10°	NNE	visible

Passesfrom Darwin (ACDT)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
14 Dec	-1.8	19:25:48	10°	NNE	19:27:10	12°	NE	19:28:32	10°	E	visible
14 Dec	-1.3	21:00:52	10°	WNW	21:03:40	24°	SW	21:06:29	10°	S	visible
15 Dec	-3.0	20:11:52	10°	NW	20:15:10	56°	SW	20:18:31	10°	SSE	visible
17 Dec	-0.5	05:18:13	10°	S	05:20:33	18°	SE	05:22:53	10°	E	visible
17 Dec	-0.2	20:13:15	10°	WSW	20:14:54	13°	SW	20:16:34	10°	SSW	visible
19 Dec	-3.8	05:16:51	10°	SW	05:20:13	85°	ESE	05:23:32	10°	NE	visible
20 Dec	-2.0	04:28:37	10°	SSW	04:31:42	33°	SE	04:34:45	10°	ENE	visible

Passes from Hobart (AEDST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
12 Dec	-2.5	01:08:03	42°	S	01:08:03	42°	S	01:11:01	10°	SE	visible
12 Dec	-1.0	02:42:27	10°	SW	02:45:04	20°	S	02:47:40	10°	SE	visible
12 Dec	-1.2	04:19:49	10°	SW	04:22:39	23°	SSE	04:25:29	10°	ESE	visible
13 Dec	-2.4	00:20:25	35°	SE	00:20:25	35°	SE	00:22:36	10°	SE	visible
13 Dec	-1.2	01:53:37	10°	WSW	01:56:23	22°	SSW	01:59:09	10°	SE	visible
13 Dec	-0.9	03:31:19	10°	SW	03:33:59	20°	S	03:36:38	10°	ESE	visible
13 Dec	-2.4	23:32:10	31°	ESE	23:32:10	31°	ESE	23:34:07	10°	ESE	visible
14 Dec	-1.5	01:04:55	11°	WSW	01:07:43	26°	SSW	01:10:41	10°	SE	visible
14 Dec	-0.8	02:42:44	10°	SW	02:45:17	19°	S	02:47:49	10°	SE	visible
14 Dec	-2.0	04:19:31	10°	SW	04:22:44	36°	SSE	04:25:55	10°	E	visible
14 Dec	-3.5	22:39:59	18°	NNW	22:42:14	44°	NE	22:45:33	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-2.0	00:15:53	10°	W	00:19:04	33°	SSW	00:22:15	10°	SE	visible
15 Dec	-0.8	01:54:00	10°	SW	01:56:33	19°	S	01:59:05	10°	SE	visible
15 Dec	-1.4	03:31:05	10°	SW	03:34:06	28°	SSE	03:37:06	10°	E	visible
15 Dec	-2.7	21:50:57	10°	NNW	21:53:52	26°	NE	21:56:47	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-2.7	23:27:08	10°	WNW	23:30:27	47°	SSW	23:33:50	10°	SE	visible
16 Dec	-0.9	01:05:11	10°	WSW	01:07:49	20°	S	01:10:27	10°	SE	visible
16 Dec	-1.1	02:42:36	10°	SW	02:45:25	23°	SSE	02:48:13	10°	ESE	visible
16 Dec	-3.5	04:19:09	10°	SW	04:22:35	77°	SSE	04:26:00	10°	ENE	visible
16 Dec	-3.5	22:38:28	10°	WNW	22:41:54	72°	SSW	22:45:21	10°	SE	visible
17 Dec	-1.1	00:16:18	10°	WSW	00:19:06	22°	SSW	00:21:54	10°	SE	visible
17 Dec	-0.9	01:54:02	10°	SW	01:56:42	20°	S	01:59:20	10°	ESE	visible
17 Dec	-2.7	03:30:40	10°	SW	03:34:02	49°	SSE	03:37:21	10°	ENE	visible
17 Dec	-3.8	21:49:58	10°	NW	21:53:23	70°	NE	21:56:50	10°	ESE	visible
17 Dec	-1.4	23:27:23	10°	WSW	23:30:23	27°	SSW	23:33:24	10°	SE	visible
18 Dec	-0.8	01:05:23	10°	SW	01:07:57	19°	S	01:10:29	10°	SE	visible
18 Dec	-2.0	02:42:12	10°	SW	02:45:25	35°	SSE	02:48:35	10°	E	visible
18 Dec	-3.3	04:18:57	10°	WSW	04:22:12	40°	NW	04:25:25	10°	NNE	visible
18 Dec	-1.9	22:38:30	10°	W	22:41:43	35°	SSW	22:44:56	10°	SE	visible
19 Dec	-0.8	00:16:37	10°	SW	00:19:11	19°	S	00:21:43	10°	SE	visible
19 Dec	-1.5	01:53:44	10°	SW	01:56:43	27°	SSE	01:59:42	10°	ESE	visible
19 Dec	-3.9	03:30:19	10°	WSW	03:33:44	70°	NW	03:37:07	10°	NE	visible
19 Dec	-2.6	21:49:42	10°	WNW	21:53:04	50°	SSW	21:56:27	10°	SE	visible
19 Dec	-0.9	23:27:45	10°	WSW	23:30:24	20°	S	23:33:03	10°	SE	visible
20 Dec	-1.1	01:05:12	10°	SW	01:08:00	22°	SSE	01:10:46	10°	ESE	visible
20 Dec	-3.5	02:41:45	10°	SW	02:45:12	72°	SSE	02:48:36	10°	ENE	visible
20 Dec	-2.1	04:19:25	10°	W	04:21:34	16°	NW	04:23:41	10°	N	visible
20 Dec	-1.1	22:38:48	10°	WSW	22:41:38	23°	SSW	22:44:29	10°	SE	visible
21 Dec	-0.9	00:16:36	10°	SW	00:19:14	20°	S	00:21:51	10°	ESE	visible
21 Dec	-2.7	01:53:14	10°	SW	01:56:35	46°	SSE	01:57:26	37°	ESE	visible
21 Dec	-1.4	21:49:51	10°	W	21:52:53	28°	SSW	21:55:56	10°	SE	visible
21 Dec	-0.9	23:27:53	10°	SW	23:30:26	19°	S	23:32:58	10°	SE	visible

Passes from Melbourne (AEDST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
12 Dec	-0.8	01:08:04	18°	S	01:08:04	18°	S	01:09:28	10°	SSE	visible
13 Dec	-0.9	00:20:25	15°	SSE	00:20:25	15°	SSE	00:21:14	10°	SE	visible
13 Dec	-0.3	01:54:40	10°	SSW	01:55:34	11°	SSW	01:56:28	10°	S	visible
13 Dec	-0.8	05:08:49	10°	SSW	05:11:30	21°	SSE	05:14:09	10°	ESE	visible
13 Dec	-1.1	23:32:10	15°	SE	23:32:10	15°	SE	23:32:53	10°	SE	visible
14 Dec	-0.4	01:04:59	10°	SW	01:06:48	13°	SSW	01:08:36	10°	SSE	visible
14 Dec	-0.5	04:20:41	10°	SSW	04:22:48	15°	SSE	04:24:55	10°	ESE	visible
14 Dec	-3.9	22:37:34	10°	NW	22:40:59	74°	NE	22:44:25	10°	SE	visible
15 Dec	-0.8	00:15:38	10°	WSW	00:18:04	18°	SSW	00:20:31	10°	SSE	visible
15 Dec	-0.3	03:32:39	10°	S	03:34:02	12°	SSE	03:35:25	10°	SE	visible
15 Dec	-2.4	05:08:10	10°	SW	05:11:30	45°	SE	05:14:45	10°	ENE	visible
15 Dec	-3.3	21:49:21	10°	NNW	21:52:33	39°	NE	21:55:47	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-1.3	23:26:29	10°	W	23:29:22	25°	SSW	23:32:18	10°	SSE	visible
16 Dec	-1.5	04:19:51	10°	SSW	04:22:53	28°	SSE	04:25:54	10°	E	visible
16 Dec	-2.2	22:37:30	10°	WNW	22:40:45	38°	SSW	22:44:00	10°	SE	visible
17 Dec	0.0	00:17:12	10°	SSW	00:18:16	11°	SSW	00:19:21	10°	S	visible
17 Dec	-0.8	03:31:36	10°	SSW	03:34:13	20°	SSE	03:36:48	10°	ESE	visible
17 Dec	-3.7	05:07:50	10°	WSW	05:11:12	58°	NW	05:14:31	10°	NE	visible
17 Dec	-3.3	21:48:46	10°	WNW	21:52:10	66°	SW	21:55:36	10°	SE	visible
17 Dec	-0.3	23:27:33	10°	SW	23:29:28	14°	SSW	23:31:23	10°	SSE	visible
18 Dec	-0.4	02:43:26	10°	SSW	02:45:28	15°	SSE	02:47:29	10°	ESE	visible
18 Dec	-3.6	04:19:16	10°	SW	04:22:43	75°	SE	04:26:05	10°	NE	visible
18 Dec	-0.7	22:38:11	10°	WSW	22:40:41	19°	SSW	22:43:13	10°	SSE	visible
19 Dec	-0.1	01:55:23	10°	S	01:56:39	12°	SSE	01:57:55	10°	SE	visible
19 Dec	-2.4	03:30:50	10°	SW	03:34:08	42°	SE	03:37:23	10°	ENE	visible
19 Dec	-2.3	05:08:11	10°	W	05:10:39	19°	NW	05:13:05	10°	N	visible
19 Dec	-1.2	21:49:00	10°	W	21:51:57	26°	SSW	21:54:57	10°	SSE	visible
20 Dec	-1.5	02:42:29	10°	SSW	02:45:28	27°	SSE	02:48:26	10°	E	visible
20 Dec	-3.1	04:19:07	10°	WSW	04:22:15	34°	NW	04:25:20	10°	NNE	visible
20 Dec	-0.3	22:39:33	10°	SW	22:40:48	11°	SSW	22:42:02	10°	S	visible
21 Dec	-1.0	01:54:12	10°	SSW	01:56:45	19°	SSE	01:57:26	18°	SE	visible
21 Dec	-0.5	21:49:55	10°	WSW	21:51:57	15°	SSW	21:53:58	10°	SSE	visible

Passes from Perth (AWST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
14 Dec	-0.7	04:30:09	10°	SSW	04:32:51	21°	SE	04:35:30	10°	E	visible
14 Dec	-3.8	21:08:26	10°	NW	21:11:50	88°	SW	21:15:17	10°	SE	visible
14 Dec	-0.2	22:48:07	10°	SW	22:49:02	11°	SSW	22:49:56	10°	SSW	visible
15 Dec	-0.3	03:42:22	10°	S	03:44:10	13°	SSE	03:45:56	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-3.4	20:20:09	10°	NNW	20:23:24	44°	NE	20:26:41	10°	ESE	visible
15 Dec	-0.6	21:58:00	10°	WSW	22:00:18	17°	SW	22:02:36	10°	S	visible
16 Dec	-3.2	04:29:20	10°	SW	04:32:43	64°	SE	04:36:04	10°	NE	visible
16 Dec	-1.4	21:08:40	10°	W	21:11:38	27°	SW	21:14:37	10°	SSE	visible
17 Dec	-1.8	03:41:01	10°	SSW	03:44:09	33°	SE	03:47:15	10°	ENE	visible
17 Dec	-2.6	20:19:43	10°	WNW	20:23:02	48°	SW	20:26:23	10°	SE	visible
18 Dec	-0.9	02:52:56	10°	SSW	02:55:30	20°	SE	02:58:05	10°	E	visible
18 Dec	-3.0	04:29:13	10°	WSW	04:32:18	32°	NW	04:35:20	10°	NNE	visible
18 Dec	-0.1	21:10:24	10°	SW	21:11:38	11°	SSW	21:12:52	10°	S	visible
19 Dec	-0.3	02:05:11	10°	S	02:06:47	13°	SSE	02:08:22	10°	ESE	visible
19 Dec	-3.9	03:40:27	10°	SW	03:43:51	69°	NW	03:47:11	10°	NE	visible
19 Dec	-0.5	20:20:28	10°	W	20:22:53	18°	SW	20:25:19	10°	S	visible
20 Dec	-2.8	02:51:57	10°	SW	02:57:26	20°	ENE	02:58:39	10°	ENE	visible

Passes from Sydney (AEDST)

13 Dec	-0.1	00:20:24	10°	S	00:20:24	10°	S	00:20:29	10°	S	visible
13 Dec	-0.5	23:32:07	12°	SSE	23:32:07	12°	SSE	23:32:35	10°	SSE	visible
14 Dec	-0.3	04:23:01	10°	S	04:24:27	12°	SSE	04:25:54	10°	SE	visible
14 Dec	-2.1	21:02:11	10°	N	21:08:26	5°	ESE	21:03:45	17°	NNE	visible
14 Dec	-2.0	22:38:06	10°	WNW	22:41:14	33°	SW	22:44:24	10°	SSE	visible
15 Dec	-3.2	21:49:15	10°	WNW	21:52:38	61°	SW	21:56:03	10°	SE	visible
15 Dec	0.0	23:29:48	10°	SSW	23:29:57	10°	SSW	23:30:06	10°	SSW	visible
16 Dec	-1.3	04:21:30	10°	SSW	04:24:26	26°	SE	04:27:21	10°	E	visible
16 Dec	-3.8	21:00:42	10°	NW	21:04:05	67°	NE	21:07:30	10°	SE	visible
16 Dec	-0.4	22:39:07	10°	WSW	22:41:08	15°	SSW	22:43:09	10°	S	visible
17 Dec	-0.5	03:33:23	10°	SSW	03:35:43	17°	SSE	03:38:01	10°	ESE	visible
17 Dec	-1.0	21:49:37	10°	W	21:52:22	22°	SW	21:55:08	10°	SSE	visible
18 Dec	-0.1	02:45:41	10°	S	02:46:54	11°	SSE	02:48:07	10°	SE	visible
18 Dec	-3.7	04:20:42	10°	SW	04:24:07	80°	SE	04:27:30	10°	NE	visible
18 Dec	-1.9	21:00:29	10°	WNW	21:03:40	36°	SW	21:06:53	10°	SSE	visible
19 Dec	-2.4	03:32:15	10°	SSW	03:35:31	41°	SE	03:38:44	10°	ENE	visible
19 Dec	-2.0	05:09:57	10°	W	05:11:57	15°	NW	05:13:56	10°	NNW	visible
19 Dec	-0.1	21:51:29	10°	SW	21:52:18	11°	SSW	21:53:09	10°	SSW	visible
20 Dec	-1.4	02:43:57	10°	SSW	02:46:49	24°	SE	02:49:39	10°	E	visible
20 Dec	-2.9	04:20:33	10°	WSW	04:23:32	28°	NW	04:26:27	10°	N	visible
20 Dec	-0.5	21:01:18	10°	WSW	21:03:27	16°	SSW	21:05:37	10°	S	visible
21 Dec	-0.5	01:55:50	10°	S	01:56:59	14°	S	01:56:59	14°	S	visible

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.

Labels: ISS, Satellite, unaided eye