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| Tiangong as seen from Melbourne on the evening of Thursday 1 February at 21:44 AEDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot). Click to embiggen. | Tiangong as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Thursday 1 February at 21:12 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot). Click to embiggen. | Tiangong as seen from Perth on the evening of Thursday 1 February at 20:14 AWST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot). Click to embiggen. |
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| All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Thursday 1 February for Melbourne. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Thursday 1 February for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Thursday 1 February for Perth. |
Relatively bright passes of the Chinese space station Tiangong visible in the evening from Australia aren't that common. Over the next few days
there are a series
of bright Tiangong passes in
the late evening twilight/early evening and the early morning. Tiangong passes close to Jupiter and several bright stars.Jupiter is a handy orientation point for many passes.
The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above.
Particularly impressive passes are highlighted in yellow, passes entering the shadow in blue.
Passes from Adelaide (ACDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 31 Jan | -1.3 | 22:12:16 | 10° | W | 22:15:20 | 49° | SSW | 22:15:57 | 42° | SSE | visible |
| 01 Feb | -2.2 | 21:10:43 | 10° | WNW | 21:13:52 | 87° | SSW | 21:17:03 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 01 Feb | 0.3 | 22:48:06 | 10° | WSW | 22:50:04 | 24° | SW | 22:50:04 | 24° | SW | visible |
| 02 Feb | -0.6 | 21:46:18 | 10° | W | 21:49:14 | 34° | SSW | 21:51:46 | 13° | SE | visible |
| 02 Feb | 1.5 | 23:23:50 | 10° | SW | 23:23:52 | 10° | SW | 23:23:52 | 10° | SW | visible |
| 03 Feb | -1.3 | 20:44:33 | 10° | W | 20:47:39 | 53° | SSW | 20:50:46 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 03 Feb | -0.1 | 22:22:07 | 10° | WSW | 22:24:46 | 24° | S | 22:25:21 | 22° | SSE | visible |
| 04 Feb | -0.2 | 21:20:17 | 10° | WSW | 21:23:04 | 27° | S | 21:25:51 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 04 Feb | 0.8 | 22:57:36 | 10° | SW | 22:58:46 | 17° | SW | 22:58:46 | 17° | SW | visible |
| 05 Feb | 0.0 | 21:55:56 | 10° | SW | 21:58:34 | 23° | S | 22:00:01 | 17° | SE | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.0 | 20:54:06 | 10° | WSW | 20:56:47 | 24° | S | 20:59:27 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.0 | 22:31:09 | 10° | SW | 22:33:14 | 26° | SSW | 22:33:14 | 26° | SSW | visible |
| 07 Feb | -0.2 | 21:29:31 | 10° | SW | 21:32:14 | 25° | S | 21:34:20 | 13° | ESE | visible |
| 07 Feb | 1.3 | 23:06:07 | 10° | WSW | 23:06:25 | 12° | WSW | 23:06:25 | 12° | WSW | visible |
| 08 Feb | -1.1 | 22:04:32 | 10° | SW | 22:07:29 | 40° | SSE | 22:07:29 | 40° | SSE | visible |
| 09 Feb | -0.6 | 21:02:54 | 10° | SW | 21:05:45 | 29° | SSE | 21:08:32 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 09 Feb | 0.5 | 22:39:29 | 10° | WSW | 22:40:37 | 20° | WSW | 22:40:37 | 20° | WSW | visible |
Passes from Brisbane (AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 31 Jan | 0.2 | 20:08:00 | 10° | W | 20:10:39 | 24° | SSW | 20:13:18 | 10° | SSE | visible |
| 01 Feb | -1.0 | 19:06:05 | 10° | WNW | 19:09:08 | 47° | SSW | 19:12:11 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 01 Feb | 1.2 | 20:45:32 | 10° | SSW | 20:46:21 | 11° | SSW | 20:47:09 | 10° | S | visible |
| 02 Feb | 0.8 | 19:42:35 | 10° | WSW | 19:44:38 | 16° | SSW | 19:46:40 | 10° | SSE | visible |
| 04 Feb | 1.0 | 19:17:28 | 10° | SW | 19:18:33 | 11° | SSW | 19:19:36 | 10° | S | visible |
| 09 Feb | 0.7 | 20:37:28 | 10° | SSW | 20:38:32 | 14° | S | 20:38:32 | 14° | S | visible |
Passes from Darwin (ACST)
none in this time frame
Passes from Hobart (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 31 Jan | -0.3 | 21:09:33 | 10° | N | 21:11:28 | 15° | NNE | 21:13:23 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 31 Jan | -0.2 | 22:44:41 | 10° | WNW | 22:45:58 | 21° | NW | 22:45:58 | 21° | NW | visible |
| 01 Feb | -1.4 | 21:43:31 | 10° | NW | 21:46:25 | 33° | NNE | 21:47:57 | 21° | ENE | visible |
| 01 Feb | 0.7 | 23:19:47 | 10° | W | 23:20:04 | 12° | W | 23:20:04 | 12° | W | visible |
| 02 Feb | -2.2 | 22:18:23 | 10° | WNW | 22:21:31 | 59° | N | 22:21:46 | 56° | NE | visible |
| 03 Feb | -1.8 | 21:17:02 | 10° | WNW | 21:20:05 | 45° | NNE | 21:23:08 | 10° | E | visible |
| 03 Feb | -0.7 | 22:53:30 | 10° | W | 22:55:21 | 31° | WNW | 22:55:21 | 31° | WNW | visible |
| 04 Feb | -2.2 | 21:52:01 | 10° | W | 21:55:10 | 67° | N | 21:56:41 | 27° | E | visible |
| 04 Feb | 1.0 | 23:28:41 | 10° | W | 23:28:46 | 11° | W | 23:28:46 | 11° | W | visible |
| 05 Feb | -2.0 | 22:27:07 | 10° | W | 22:30:01 | 58° | NW | 22:30:01 | 58° | NW | visible |
| 06 Feb | -2.1 | 21:25:32 | 10° | W | 21:28:43 | 68° | N | 21:31:10 | 15° | E | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.3 | 23:02:17 | 10° | W | 23:03:15 | 17° | WNW | 23:03:15 | 17° | WNW | visible |
| 07 Feb | -1.8 | 22:00:37 | 10° | W | 22:03:43 | 50° | NNW | 22:04:21 | 41° | NNE | visible |
| 08 Feb | -2.0 | 20:58:57 | 10° | W | 21:02:07 | 62° | N | 21:05:15 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Feb | -0.2 | 22:35:51 | 10° | W | 22:37:29 | 21° | NW | 22:37:29 | 21° | NW | visible |
| 09 Feb | -1.3 | 21:34:01 | 10° | W | 21:37:00 | 38° | NNW | 21:38:32 | 22° | NE | visible |
Passes from Melbourne (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 31 Jan | -1.1 | 21:07:38 | 10° | NNW | 21:10:21 | 27° | NNE | 21:13:06 | 10° | E | visible |
| 31 Jan | -0.9 | 22:43:48 | 10° | W | 22:45:57 | 39° | W | 22:45:57 | 39° | W | visible |
| 01 Feb | -2.3 | 21:42:20 | 10° | WNW | 21:45:29 | 81° | NNE | 21:47:57 | 15° | ESE | visible |
| 01 Feb | 0.8 | 23:19:20 | 10° | WSW | 23:20:04 | 15° | WSW | 23:20:04 | 15° | WSW | visible |
| 02 Feb | -1.3 | 22:17:43 | 10° | W | 22:20:49 | 49° | S | 22:21:46 | 34° | SE | visible |
| 03 Feb | -1.8 | 21:16:06 | 10° | W | 21:19:14 | 68° | SSW | 21:22:25 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 03 Feb | -0.3 | 22:53:12 | 10° | WSW | 22:55:21 | 32° | SW | 22:55:21 | 32° | SW | visible |
| 04 Feb | -1.0 | 21:51:32 | 10° | WSW | 21:54:35 | 42° | S | 21:56:41 | 17° | ESE | visible |
| 04 Feb | 1.2 | 23:28:28 | 10° | WSW | 23:28:46 | 12° | WSW | 23:28:46 | 12° | WSW | visible |
| 05 Feb | -1.2 | 22:26:53 | 10° | WSW | 22:29:56 | 43° | S | 22:30:00 | 42° | S | visible |
| 06 Feb | -1.0 | 21:25:13 | 10° | WSW | 21:28:14 | 40° | S | 21:31:10 | 11° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.4 | 23:02:01 | 10° | WSW | 23:03:14 | 21° | WSW | 23:03:14 | 21° | WSW | visible |
| 07 Feb | -1.5 | 22:00:24 | 10° | WSW | 22:03:31 | 51° | SSE | 22:04:21 | 38° | ESE | visible |
| 08 Feb | -1.1 | 20:58:43 | 10° | WSW | 21:01:47 | 42° | S | 21:04:49 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 08 Feb | -0.7 | 22:35:27 | 10° | WSW | 22:37:29 | 36° | W | 22:37:29 | 36° | W | visible |
| 09 Feb | -2.0 | 21:33:46 | 10° | WSW | 21:36:56 | 68° | SSE | 21:38:32 | 26° | E | visible |
Passes from Perth (AWST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 31 Jan | -0.2 | 21:14:30 | 10° | W | 21:17:16 | 28° | SSW | 21:18:06 | 24° | S | visible |
| 01 Feb | -1.1 | 20:12:41 | 10° | W | 20:15:43 | 46° | SSW | 20:18:47 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 01 Feb | 1.0 | 21:50:50 | 10° | SW | 21:52:12 | 15° | SSW | 21:52:12 | 15° | SSW | visible |
| 02 Feb | 0.4 | 20:48:45 | 10° | WSW | 20:51:13 | 20° | SSW | 20:53:42 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 03 Feb | -0.2 | 19:46:44 | 10° | W | 19:49:33 | 29° | SSW | 19:52:24 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 03 Feb | 0.7 | 21:25:01 | 10° | SW | 21:26:54 | 15° | S | 21:27:27 | 14° | S | visible |
| 04 Feb | 0.6 | 20:22:58 | 10° | SW | 20:25:07 | 17° | S | 20:27:16 | 10° | SSE | visible |
| 04 Feb | 1.4 | 22:00:33 | 10° | SSW | 22:00:51 | 11° | SSW | 22:00:51 | 11° | SSW | visible |
| 05 Feb | 0.6 | 20:58:55 | 10° | SW | 21:00:47 | 14° | S | 21:02:05 | 12° | SSE | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.6 | 19:56:59 | 10° | SW | 19:58:54 | 15° | S | 20:00:49 | 10° | SSE | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.7 | 21:34:00 | 10° | SW | 21:35:19 | 16° | SSW | 21:35:19 | 16° | SSW | visible |
| 07 Feb | 0.5 | 20:32:29 | 10° | SSW | 20:34:30 | 16° | S | 20:36:24 | 11° | SE | visible |
| 08 Feb | -0.2 | 21:07:16 | 10° | SW | 21:09:33 | 24° | S | 21:09:33 | 24° | S | visible |
| 09 Feb | 0.1 | 20:05:46 | 10° | SW | 20:08:06 | 18° | SSE | 20:10:25 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 09 Feb | 1.0 | 21:42:00 | 10° | WSW | 21:42:41 | 15° | SW | 21:42:41 | 15° | SW | visible |
Passes from Sydney (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 31 Jan | -2.2 | 21:07:53 | 10° | WNW | 21:11:02 | 89° | SSW | 21:13:48 | 13° | ESE | visible |
| 31 Jan | 1.1 | 22:45:22 | 10° | WSW | 22:45:57 | 13° | WSW | 22:45:57 | 13° | WSW | visible |
| 01 Feb | -0.4 | 21:43:32 | 10° | W | 21:46:26 | 32° | SSW | 21:47:57 | 21° | SSE | visible |
| 02 Feb | -1.3 | 20:41:47 | 10° | W | 20:44:53 | 51° | SSW | 20:47:59 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 02 Feb | 0.4 | 22:19:31 | 10° | WSW | 22:21:46 | 21° | SSW | 22:21:46 | 21° | SSW | visible |
| 03 Feb | 0.0 | 21:17:38 | 10° | WSW | 21:20:19 | 25° | SSW | 21:23:01 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 03 Feb | 1.5 | 22:55:10 | 10° | SW | 22:55:21 | 11° | SW | 22:55:21 | 11° | SW | visible |
| 04 Feb | 0.2 | 21:53:29 | 10° | SW | 21:55:54 | 20° | S | 21:56:41 | 18° | SSE | visible |
| 05 Feb | 0.2 | 20:51:36 | 10° | WSW | 20:54:07 | 21° | S | 20:56:39 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 05 Feb | 0.8 | 22:28:48 | 10° | SW | 22:30:01 | 17° | SSW | 22:30:01 | 17° | SSW | visible |
| 06 Feb | 0.1 | 21:27:11 | 10° | SW | 21:29:40 | 20° | S | 21:31:10 | 15° | SE | visible |
| 07 Feb | 0.2 | 20:25:23 | 10° | SW | 20:27:49 | 20° | S | 20:30:15 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 07 Feb | -0.1 | 22:02:14 | 10° | SW | 22:04:21 | 26° | SSW | 22:04:21 | 26° | SSW | visible |
| 08 Feb | -0.2 | 21:00:39 | 10° | SW | 21:03:17 | 23° | S | 21:05:25 | 13° | ESE | visible |
| 08 Feb | 1.3 | 22:37:08 | 10° | WSW | 22:37:29 | 13° | WSW | 22:37:29 | 13° | WSW | visible |
| 09 Feb | -1.3 | 21:35:31 | 10° | SW | 21:38:32 | 43° | SSE | 21:38:32 | 43° | SSE | visible |
When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use Heavens Above to get site specific predictions for your location, a small difference in location can mean the difference between Tiangong 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 Tiangong appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
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