Wednesday, April 03, 2024
Bright ISS passes near the Lineup of Mars, Saturn, moon and Venus, 4-11 April, 2024 (plus some Tiangong passes)
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| ISS as seen from Brisbane on the evening of Saturday 7 April at 4:27 AEST. Simulated in Stellarium, the ISS is passing directly over the Moon. Click to embiggen. | ISS as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Friday 5 April at 6:59 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot). Click to embiggen. | ISS as seen from Perth on the evening of Friday 5 April at 6:03 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 Saturday 7 April for Brisbane. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Friday 5 April for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Friday 5 April for Perth. |
I normally don't bother with morning passes of the ISS, as geeing up is a pain. However, this time the ISS passes coincide with a very nice lineup of the Crescent Moon, Mars, Saturn, and Venus. In some cases the ISS passes through the lineup, and for Brisbane on the 7th, the ISS passes over the Moon! Well worth getting up for.
Also in this time frame there are a series of bright Tiangong passes in the late evening twilight/early evening and the early morning. See Heavens Above for details.
The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above.
Particularly impressive passes are highlighted in yellow. Daylight savings ends on Sunday April 7.
Passes from Adelaide (ACDST/ACST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -1.2 | 06:54:56 | 10° | SSW | 06:57:25 | 18° | SSE | 06:59:53 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 04 Apr | -0.9 | 06:07:18 | 10° | S | 06:08:56 | 13° | SSE | 06:10:33 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 05 Apr | -2.7 | 06:54:31 | 10° | SW | 06:57:50 | 45° | SE | 07:01:06 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -1.8 | 06:07:13 | 15° | SSW | 06:09:26 | 27° | SE | 06:12:22 | 10° | E | visible |
| 07 Apr | -1.0 | 04:21:24 | 17° | SE | 04:21:24 | 17° | SE | 04:23:19 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -3.5 | 05:54:34 | 10° | WSW | 05:57:53 | 51° | NW | 06:01:10 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -3.7 | 05:08:38 | 45° | SW | 05:09:34 | 80° | SE | 05:12:56 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.2 | 04:23:03 | 21° | E | 04:23:03 | 21° | E | 04:24:24 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.8 | 05:56:00 | 12° | W | 05:57:37 | 15° | NW | 05:59:39 | 10° | NNW | visible |
| 10 Apr | -2.1 | 05:10:31 | 23° | NNW | 05:10:31 | 23° | NNW | 05:12:18 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -1.7 | 19:21:38 | 10° | N | 19:22:52 | 17° | NNE | 19:22:52 | 17° | NNE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -1.6 | 18:34:30 | 10° | NNE | 18:36:07 | 13° | NE | 18:37:12 | 11° | ENE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -1.0 | 20:09:11 | 10° | WNW | 20:10:09 | 17° | WNW | 20:10:09 | 17° | WNW | visible |
Passes from Brisbane (AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 07 Apr | -1.4 | 04:52:10 | 10° | SSW | 04:54:53 | 22° | SE | 04:57:34 | 10° | E | visible |
| 08 Apr | -0.8 | 04:05:41 | 12° | SSE | 04:06:22 | 13° | SE | 04:07:58 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -3.7 | 04:53:03 | 24° | SW | 04:54:56 | 80° | SE | 04:58:18 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.7 | 04:07:33 | 29° | E | 04:07:33 | 29° | E | 04:09:40 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.9 | 19:03:56 | 10° | NNW | 19:05:25 | 22° | N | 19:05:25 | 22° | N | visible |
| 11 Apr | -2.3 | 04:55:06 | 23° | NW | 04:55:06 | 23° | NW | 04:57:24 | 10° | N | visible |
| 11 Apr | -2.1 | 18:16:20 | 10° | N | 18:18:45 | 18° | NE | 18:19:54 | 16° | E | visible |
| 11 Apr | -0.4 | 19:52:27 | 10° | W | 19:52:51 | 12° | W | 19:52:51 | 12° | W | visible |
| 12 Apr | -3.0 | 19:03:29 | 10° | WNW | 19:06:47 | 49° | SW | 19:07:12 | 46° | SSW | visible |
Passes from Darwin (ACST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 08 Apr | -2.7 | 20:03:56 | 10° | NNW | 20:06:08 | 34° | N | 20:06:08 | 34° | N | visible |
| 09 Apr | -0.9 | 05:58:51 | 10° | S | 06:01:03 | 16° | SE | 06:03:15 | 10° | E | visible |
| 09 Apr | -2.3 | 19:16:15 | 10° | N | 19:18:51 | 21° | NE | 19:20:49 | 14° | E | visible |
| 09 Apr | -0.2 | 20:53:36 | 10° | W | 20:53:47 | 11° | W | 20:53:47 | 11° | W | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.9 | 20:04:02 | 10° | WNW | 20:07:00 | 29° | SW | 20:08:23 | 21° | S | visible |
| 11 Apr | -3.7 | 05:58:04 | 14° | SSW | 06:00:55 | 77° | SE | 06:04:14 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -3.5 | 19:15:13 | 10° | NW | 19:18:33 | 72° | SW | 19:21:55 | 10° | SSE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -2.0 | 05:12:41 | 30° | ESE | 05:12:41 | 30° | ESE | 05:15:28 | 10° | ENE | visible |
Passes from Hobart (AEDST/AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -2.0 | 05:49:23 | 21° | SSW | 05:50:46 | 27° | SSE | 05:53:47 | 10° | E | visible |
| 04 Apr | -1.2 | 05:03:18 | 20° | SE | 05:03:18 | 20° | SE | 05:05:08 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 04 Apr | -3.6 | 06:36:14 | 11° | SW | 06:39:31 | 77° | SSE | 06:42:55 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 05 Apr | -3.0 | 05:50:13 | 36° | SSW | 05:51:11 | 49° | SSE | 05:54:31 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -1.3 | 05:04:16 | 23° | ESE | 05:04:16 | 23° | ESE | 05:05:57 | 10° | E | visible |
| 06 Apr | -3.2 | 06:37:13 | 16° | WSW | 06:39:35 | 40° | NW | 06:42:47 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -3.8 | 04:51:24 | 69° | NNW | 04:51:24 | 69° | NNW | 04:54:41 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -0.9 | 04:05:41 | 15° | ENE | 04:05:41 | 15° | ENE | 04:06:20 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -1.9 | 05:38:38 | 15° | WNW | 05:39:19 | 15° | NW | 05:41:25 | 10° | N | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.5 | 04:53:03 | 16° | N | 04:53:03 | 16° | N | 04:53:58 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -1.1 | 19:07:11 | 10° | NNE | 19:07:11 | 10° | NNE | 19:07:11 | 10° | NNE | visible |
Passes from Melbourne (AEDST/AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -0.9 | 05:49:24 | 10° | S | 05:50:43 | 12° | SSE | 05:52:06 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 04 Apr | -1.9 | 06:36:46 | 10° | SSW | 06:39:49 | 28° | SSE | 06:42:49 | 10° | E | visible |
| 05 Apr | -1.4 | 05:50:13 | 17° | S | 05:51:22 | 20° | SSE | 05:53:58 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -0.4 | 05:04:17 | 12° | SE | 05:04:17 | 12° | SE | 05:04:52 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -3.6 | 06:37:13 | 14° | SW | 06:40:05 | 75° | SE | 06:43:28 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -2.8 | 04:51:24 | 41° | SSE | 04:51:42 | 42° | SE | 04:54:57 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -0.4 | 04:05:41 | 13° | E | 04:05:41 | 13° | E | 04:06:12 | 10° | E | visible |
| 08 Apr | -2.9 | 05:38:39 | 24° | W | 05:40:00 | 33° | NW | 05:43:05 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -2.4 | 04:53:03 | 32° | NNE | 04:53:03 | 32° | NNE | 04:55:03 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.3 | 05:40:31 | 10° | NW | 05:40:31 | 10° | NW | 05:40:36 | 10° | NW | visible |
| 11 Apr | -0.8 | 19:52:51 | 10° | NNW | 19:52:51 | 10° | NNW | 19:52:51 | 10° | NNW | visible |
| 12 Apr | -2.0 | 19:05:11 | 10° | N | 19:07:12 | 18° | NE | 19:07:12 | 18° | NE | visible |
Passes from Perth (AWST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -0.9 | 05:59:06 | 10° | S | 06:00:52 | 13° | SSE | 06:02:39 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 05 Apr | -2.1 | 05:58:12 | 10° | SSW | 06:01:20 | 33° | SE | 06:04:27 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -1.3 | 05:10:18 | 10° | SSW | 05:12:55 | 20° | SE | 05:15:29 | 10° | E | visible |
| 07 Apr | -0.7 | 04:24:21 | 13° | SSE | 04:24:22 | 13° | SSE | 04:25:59 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -3.7 | 05:58:03 | 10° | SW | 06:01:26 | 68° | NW | 06:04:47 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -3.3 | 05:11:35 | 29° | SSW | 05:13:05 | 58° | SE | 05:16:26 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.2 | 04:26:00 | 22° | E | 04:26:00 | 22° | E | 04:27:42 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -2.1 | 05:58:58 | 11° | W | 06:01:12 | 18° | NW | 06:03:35 | 10° | N | visible |
| 10 Apr | -2.8 | 05:13:29 | 32° | NNW | 05:13:29 | 32° | NNW | 05:16:01 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -2.5 | 19:23:40 | 10° | NNW | 19:25:50 | 29° | NNE | 19:25:50 | 29° | NNE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -2.1 | 18:36:01 | 10° | N | 18:38:26 | 19° | NE | 18:40:09 | 13° | E | visible |
| 12 Apr | -0.9 | 20:11:56 | 10° | WNW | 20:13:05 | 18° | W | 20:13:05 | 18° | W | visibl |
Passes from Sydney (AEDST/AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 04 Apr | -1.7 | 06:38:37 | 10° | SSW | 06:41:34 | 26° | SE | 06:44:30 | 10° | E | visible |
| 05 Apr | -1.1 | 05:50:47 | 10° | SSW | 05:53:07 | 17° | SSE | 05:55:27 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -0.7 | 05:04:17 | 11° | SSE | 05:04:35 | 12° | SSE | 05:05:49 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -3.6 | 06:38:23 | 10° | SW | 06:41:48 | 81° | SE | 06:45:11 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -2.6 | 04:51:23 | 19° | SSW | 04:53:26 | 42° | SE | 04:56:41 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -1.4 | 04:05:41 | 23° | SE | 04:05:41 | 23° | SE | 04:07:51 | 10° | E | visible |
| 08 Apr | -2.6 | 05:38:45 | 10° | WSW | 05:41:42 | 27° | NW | 05:44:36 | 10° | N | visible |
| 09 Apr | -3.7 | 04:53:03 | 51° | WNW | 04:53:24 | 54° | NW | 04:56:42 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.1 | 04:07:33 | 17° | NE | 04:07:33 | 17° | NE | 04:08:24 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -1.1 | 04:55:06 | 10° | NNW | 04:55:06 | 10° | NNW | 04:55:10 | 10° | NNW | visible |
| 11 Apr | -0.5 | 19:52:48 | 10° | NW | 19:52:52 | 11° | NW | 19:52:52 | 11° | NW | visible |
| 12 Apr | -3.3 | 19:04:24 | 10° | NNW | 19:07:12 | 48° | N | 19:07:12 | 48° | N | 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 ISS passing over the Moon or a 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/Tiangong appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
Labels: ISS, Mars, Moon, Satellite, Saturn, tiangong, unaided eye, Venus
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