ISS Passes
updated: Feb 25, 2013, 9:52 AM

By Chuck McPartlin

It's ISS time again. The space station will make two nice evening passes over Santa Barbara this week.

On Tuesday, Feb 24, the ISS will rise in the NW at 7:12 PM, and pass to the SSE, where it will enter the Earth's shadow at 7:16 PM, just after passing Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Its trajectory will be best seen if you're facing the southern horizon, toward the ocean.

On Wednesday, Feb 25, the ISS will rise in the NW at 6:21 PM, and pass to the SE, setting on the horizon at 6:28 PM. This time, you'll get a better view if you're facing the mountains.

Learn all about the current crew (three Russians, two Americans, and a Canadian) at: NASA.gov

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 378418P	2013-02-25 10:09 AM
Yikes, ~5 minutes to view it does not leave any room for dallying.
COMMENT 378422P	2013-02-25 10:19 AM
Unfortunately, it was yesterday, Sunday: Time: Sun Feb 24 7:17 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 41 degrees, Appears: NW, Disappears: NNE I don't know whether the next is Wednesday or the 25th. Probably, tonight, the 25th?
COMMENT 378451	2013-02-25 11:07 AM
Thanks ! I love these updates (I'm admittedly too lazy to go to the NASA website).
COMMENT 378458P	2013-02-25 11:18 AM
422P, It looks like Chuck's info is correct. And it will pass tonight at 6:26, from NNW to E. Max elevation will be 24 degrees. This from NASA/ Real Data.
COMMENT 378461	2013-02-25 11:24 AM
There's a great website that lists all the ISS passes in your location, but unfortunately I can't post the link since I'm not a paying member.
COMMENT 378506	2013-02-25 12:40 PM
How could Chuck's info be correct when it says Tues. and Wed in the post and we already missed the best viewing?
COMMENT 378582	2013-02-25 03:31 PM
Date Brightness Start Highest point End Pass type [Mag] Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. Time Alt. Az. 25 Feb -1.9 18:26:36 10° NNW 18:29:26 25° NE 18:31:49 13° E Visible 25 Feb -0.6 20:03:06 10° WNW 20:04:37 20° W 20:04:37 20° W Visible 26 Feb -2.8 19:12:10 10° NW 19:15:28 57° SW 19:16:48 31° SSE Visible 27 Feb -3.3 18:21:30 10° NW 18:24:50 66° NE 18:28:09 10° SE Visible 28 Feb -0.6 19:08:05 10° W 19:10:30 19° SW 19:12:55 10° S Visible 01 Mar -1.7 18:16:49 10° WNW 18:19:57 37° SW 18:23:04 10° SSE Visible Developed and maintained by Chris Peat, Heavens-Above (dot com)
MACPUZL	2013-02-25 04:30 PM
The passes with the best visibility are Tuesday and Wednesday. I didn't list *all* the passes. More negative numbers for Mag are brighter, and higher middle column for Alt is higher in the sky. Too early, and sky brightness interferes.

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