Astroblog

Adelaide, G15-4 launch passes


Northern Evening sky as seen from Adelaide at 18:32 ACST on Friday May 16. The Starlink train from launch G15-4 is passing north east. Simulated in Stellarium.Click to embiggen.	North-Western Evening sky as seen from Adelaide at 18:28 ACST on Saturday May 17. The Starlink train from launch G15-4 is passing north west. Simulated in Stellarium.Click to embiggen.

Whole sky map for Adelaide on Friday May 16 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.1 at brightest.	Whole sky map for Adelaide on Saturday May 17 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.6 at brightest.

Alice Springs G15-4 launch passes


Whole sky map for Alice Springs on Friday May 16 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite starting 18:28. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.2 at brightest.	Whole sky map for Alice Springs on Saturday May 17 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite starting 18:28. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.9 at brightest.

Perth G15-4 launch passes


Whole sky map for Perth on Friday May 16 starting 18:32 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.2 at brightest.	Whole sky map for Perth on Saturday May 17 starting 18:32 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 3.3 at brightest.

Melbourne G6-67 launch passes


Whole sky map for Melbourne on Friday May 16 starting 18:01 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 30 satellites on this path taking 2 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 3.4 at brightest.	Whole sky map for Melbourne on Saturday May 17 starting 17:52 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 28 satellites on this path taking 10 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 3.6 at brightest.

Hobart G6-67 launch passes


Whole sky map for Hobart on Saturday May 17 starting 17:52 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 30 satellites on this path taking 4 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.1 at brightest.	Whole sky map for Hobart on Sunday May 18 starting 18:00 showing the Starlink pass direction of a single satellite. there are 30 satellites on this path taking 4 minutes for start to finish. magnitude 2.1 at brightest.

While the Starlink satellites are the bane of astrophographers, the sight of a recently launched Starlink train is rather awesome. Over the next few days two recent launches will give some Australians an awesome view.

The Starlink train from launch G15-4 (13 May UT) will be visible in the early evening twilight of the 16-17th May from central and western states (not Darwin and for the eastern states they occur during bright twilight). 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. Choose G15-4 (13 May UT) form the drop down menu in the starlink prediction dialog.

The Starlink train from launch G6-67 (14 May UT) will be visible in the early evening twilight of the 16-19th May from Victoria and Tasmania. use Heavens Above to get site specific predictions for your location. Choose G6-67(14 May UT) form the drop down menu in the starlink prediction dialog.

Labels: Satellite, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:35 pm 0 comments


ISS as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Wednesday 25 December at 22:09 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium. Click to embiggen.	ISS as seen from Melbourne on the evening of Wednesday 25 December at 22:28 AEDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot). Click to embiggen.	ISS as seen from Perth on the evening of Wednesday 25 December at 21:12 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 Wednesday 25 December for Adelaide.	All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Wednesday 25 December for Melbourne.	All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Wednesday 25 Decemberfor Perth.

Over the next few days most of Australia will see some very nice bright passes of the ISS, some passing bright stars or Venus or Jupiter. For most of Australia (sorry Darwin and Brisbane) there is a very nice pass on Christmas day.

The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above.

Passes from Adelaide (ACDST/ACST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
22 Dec	-2.1	22:56:54	10°	SSW	22:59:34	29°	SSE	22:59:34	29°	SSE	visible
23 Dec	-1.6	22:08:07	10°	SSW	22:10:38	19°	SSE	22:12:05	15°	ESE	visible
23 Dec	-0.9	23:44:15	10°	WSW	23:44:56	15°	WSW	23:44:56	15°	WSW	visible
24 Dec	-1.1	21:19:33	10°	S	21:21:12	13°	SSE	21:22:51	10°	SE	visible
24 Dec	-2.8	22:54:56	10°	SW	22:57:29	47°	SW	22:57:29	47°	SW	visible
25 Dec	-3.1	22:05:48	10°	SW	22:09:06	45°	SE	22:10:04	34°	E	visible
26 Dec	-2.1	21:16:48	10°	SSW	21:19:45	26°	SE	21:22:40	10°	E	visible
26 Dec	-1.8	22:53:30	10°	WSW	22:55:31	23°	WNW	22:55:31	23°	WNW	visible
27 Dec	-3.3	22:03:54	10°	WSW	22:07:13	53°	NW	22:08:10	38°	N	visible
28 Dec	-3.7	21:14:33	10°	SW	21:17:57	75°	SE	21:20:51	13°	NE	visible
29 Dec	-1.5	22:02:48	10°	W	22:05:01	16°	NW	22:06:26	13°	NNW	visible
30 Dec	-2.3	21:12:45	10°	WSW	21:15:48	31°	NW	21:18:49	10°	NNE	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
23 Dec	-0.4	21:41:45	10°	SSW	21:42:05	12°	SSW	21:42:05	12°	SSW	visible
24 Dec	-1.1	20:53:24	10°	S	20:54:38	13°	SSE	20:54:38	13°	SSE	visible
25 Dec	-0.5	21:39:30	10°	SW	21:40:04	14°	SW	21:40:04	14°	SW	visible
26 Dec	-2.2	20:50:25	10°	SSW	20:52:40	31°	S	20:52:40	31°	S	visible
27 Dec	-1.9	20:01:37	10°	S	20:04:16	21°	SE	20:05:19	18°	ESE	visible
28 Dec	-1.2	19:13:23	10°	SSE	19:14:47	12°	SE	19:16:11	10°	ESE	visible
28 Dec	-2.5	20:48:24	10°	SW	20:50:51	38°	W	20:50:51	38°	W	visible
29 Dec	-3.8	19:59:01	10°	SW	20:02:23	72°	SE	20:03:35	36°	ENE	visible
30 Dec	-2.6	19:09:54	10°	SSW	19:13:00	33°	SE	19:16:03	10°	ENE	visible
30 Dec	-1.1	20:47:43	10°	W	20:49:13	13°	WNW	20:49:13	13°	WNW	visible
31 Dec	-2.1	19:57:15	10°	WSW	20:00:10	27°	NW	20:02:03	16°	N	visible

Passes from Darwin (ACST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
31 Dec	-2.0	21:03:02	10°	SSW	21:04:55	30°	SSW	21:04:55	30°	SSW	visible

Passes from Hobart (AEDST/AEST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
23 Dec	-3.6	22:37:36	10°	WSW	22:40:58	62°	NW	22:42:05	36°	NNE	visible
24 Dec	-3.7	21:48:22	10°	SW	21:51:47	79°	SSE	21:54:38	14°	ENE	visible
24 Dec	-1.3	23:26:13	10°	W	23:27:29	13°	WNW	23:27:29	13°	WNW	visible
25 Dec	-2.1	22:36:15	10°	W	22:39:02	24°	NW	22:40:04	20°	NNW	visible
26 Dec	-2.9	21:46:41	10°	WSW	21:49:55	40°	NW	21:52:40	13°	NNE	visible
28 Dec	-1.4	21:45:33	10°	W	21:47:44	16°	NW	21:49:53	10°	N	visible

Passes from Melbourne (AEDST/AEST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
23 Dec	-3.1	22:38:04	10°	SW	22:41:23	47°	SE	22:42:05	39°	ESE	visible
24 Dec	-2.2	21:49:04	10°	SSW	21:52:06	29°	SSE	21:54:38	13°	E	visible
24 Dec	-1.7	23:25:46	10°	WSW	23:27:29	22°	W	23:27:29	22°	W	visible
25 Dec	-3.6	22:36:18	10°	WSW	22:39:38	57°	NW	22:40:04	52°	N	visible
26 Dec	-3.7	21:47:00	10°	SW	21:50:25	74°	SE	21:52:40	19°	ENE	visible
27 Dec	-1.8	22:35:05	10°	W	22:37:33	19°	NW	22:38:10	18°	NW	visible
28 Dec	-2.6	21:45:16	10°	WSW	21:48:24	35°	NW	21:50:51	14°	NNE	visible
30 Dec	-1.1	21:44:39	10°	WNW	21:46:04	12°	NW	21:47:28	10°	NNW	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
22 Dec	-1.3	22:00:39	10°	SSW	22:02:24	19°	S	22:02:24	19°	S	visible
23 Dec	-1.2	21:12:12	10°	S	21:14:01	14°	SSE	21:14:56	13°	SE	visible
23 Dec	-0.3	22:47:40	10°	SW	22:47:46	11°	SW	22:47:46	11°	SW	visible
24 Dec	-1.8	21:58:26	10°	SW	22:00:19	30°	SSW	22:00:19	30°	SSW	visible
25 Dec	-2.6	21:09:26	10°	SSW	21:12:33	33°	SE	21:12:54	32°	SE	visible
26 Dec	-1.7	20:20:37	10°	SSW	20:23:10	19°	SE	20:25:31	11°	E	visible
26 Dec	-1.5	21:56:50	10°	WSW	21:58:21	21°	W	21:58:21	21°	W	visible
27 Dec	-3.8	21:07:20	10°	SW	21:10:42	71°	NW	21:11:00	65°	N	visible
28 Dec	-3.4	20:18:04	10°	SW	20:21:25	54°	SE	20:23:42	18°	ENE	visible
29 Dec	-1.8	21:06:00	10°	W	21:08:32	20°	NW	21:09:17	18°	NW	visible
30 Dec	-2.7	20:16:06	10°	WSW	20:19:19	40°	NW	20:22:04	12°	NNE	visible

Passes from Sydney (AEDST/AEST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
Date	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Pass type
23 Dec	-2.1	22:39:49	10°	SW	22:42:05	34°	S	22:42:05	34°	S	visible
24 Dec	-2.2	21:50:54	10°	SSW	21:53:50	27°	SE	21:54:38	24°	ESE	visible
25 Dec	-1.4	21:02:08	10°	SSW	21:04:27	17°	SSE	21:06:45	10°	ESE	visible
25 Dec	-2.0	22:38:03	10°	WSW	22:40:04	30°	WSW	22:40:04	30°	WSW	visible
26 Dec	-3.8	21:48:44	10°	SW	21:52:08	80°	SE	21:52:40	59°	ENE	visible
27 Dec	-2.9	20:59:35	10°	SSW	21:02:50	40°	SE	21:05:19	15°	ENE	visible
27 Dec	-1.1	22:37:14	10°	W	22:38:10	13°	WNW	22:38:10	13°	WNW	visible
28 Dec	-2.4	21:47:07	10°	WSW	21:50:06	29°	NW	21:50:51	26°	NNW	visible
29 Dec	-3.4	20:57:31	10°	SW	21:00:51	60°	NW	21:03:35	14°	NNE	visible
31 Dec	-1.4	20:56:11	10°	W	20:58:33	18°	NW	21:00:54	10°	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 appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.

Labels: ISS, Satellite, unaided eye, Venus

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 12:45 am 0 comments


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.

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.