Chinese Space Station Sightings Possile July 5 - July 11 from the Twin Ciitesn Cities.

[petemn2004]

The Chinese Space Station Tiangong, which means heavenly palace, will be making favorable evening passes in the night sky next week.

The orbit of the space station is inclined 41.5 degrees to the equator which means that it will never pass directly overhead in the Twin Cites because we are at 45 degrees.

There are three Taikonauts on board the space station for a three-month mission.

The most favorable (highest above the horizon facing south) passes per heavens-above.com are:

05 Jul 22:57:43 41° South
06 Jul 21:56:23 35° South
07 Jul 22:31:22 43° South
08 Jul 23:06:01 34° South South West
09 Jul 22:04:36 41° South
11 Jul 21:37:23 35° South

Times shown are for when the space station is at the highest point in the sky. The magnitude should be around 1.5.

I have seen it earlier this year making an evening pass. I set at timer on my cell phone to alert me. Suggest getting out there at least five minutes before the times listed. Check heavens-above.com as the orbit may have been changed.


Mark

[petemn2004]

Updated prediction for tonight, Monday July 5th is as follows:

05 Jul Maximum at 22:58:39 41° South
Predicted maximum magnitude is 1.4

This is about a minute later than what was predicted last Friday.

The direction will be from the west to the east.

Mark

[petemn2004]

Looks like it might clear in time to see tonight's pass (at least in the western suburbs).

Latest prediction:
07 Jul Magnitude 1.4 Time of maximum elevation: 22:33:25 Maximum elevation 43° South

Mark

[DahnGee]

Thanks for posting this. I saw it Wednesday night. Maybe a bit brighter than 2nd mag. Not as bright as Antares nearby. Tracked it in a 15" dob at ~75x. Could tell it had a length to it and wasn't a point but that was about it

[petemn2004]

Thanks Don. Glad you saw the space station.

I thought it was about as bright as Antares and looked red to me.

Heavens-Above.com labels the Chinese Space Station Tianhe-1.

Tonight's (Thursday July pass has a lower maximum altitude (32 degrees) and it looks like it will be clear.

Tomorrow's pass (Friday July 9) is higher at 40 degrees maximum elevation.

08 Jul 23:08:38 32° SSW
09 Jul 22:08:07 40° S


Mark