#iss passes

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area Iridium Flares and ISS Passes for the week of August 26th, 2018

(Above: On Thursday, August 30 at 9:02:54 pm EDT, a very bright Iridium Satellite Flare will occur over the GTA. Look for it high in the eastern sky, to the right of the bright star Deneb. The time varies by a few seconds across the region.)

Iridium flares are glints of sunlight off of the flat reflecting sides of one of the satellites that comprise the Iridium pager and sat-phone network. The flares occur before dawn and after dusk, when the satellite passing overhead is still illuminated by the Sun, which is below the horizon for observers on the ground. The duration and brightness depend on the angles between the observer, the satellite, and the Sun. For even more info about Iridium Flares and the space station, see an article that I wrote here. The Iridium Company has started replacing these satellites, ending the flares, so enjoy them while you can.

Here are this week’s best Iridium Flares for the GTA. Using an accurate clock, go outside a few minutes ahead and look in the direction indicated. You should first see the dim Iridium satellite moving quickly across the sky, and then it will rapidly brighten for 3 to 8 seconds, and fade out. Truly spectacular! The more negative the Magnitude number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is! (The horizon is 0°, and 90° is straight up, so 55° is a bit higher than halfway between the horizon and zenith.) These data are adapted from www.heavens-above.com. To get your own schedule, enter your location in their website. Click the hyperlinks to see a star chart of the pass.

Date and Time (EDT)           Mag.  Alt.  Direction      Notes Mon, 27-Aug at 9:15:54 pm  -2.0    57°   97° (E) Tue, 28-Aug at 9:13:01 pm   -3.8    60°   100° (E)        Bright! Wed, 29-Aug at 5:04:24 am   0.0    10°   20° (NNE) Wed, 29-Aug at 9:07:02 pm  -1.5    58°   102° (ESE) Thu, 30-Aug at 5:03:30 am   -5.4    10°   19° (NNE)     Very Bright! Thu, 30-Aug at 9:00:58 pm    0.2    58°   104° (ESE) Thu, 30-Aug at 9:02:54 pm   -8.5    61°   106° (ESE)   Extremely Bright! Sun, 02-Sep at 8:49:53 pm   -1.4    65°   117° (ESE)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible gliding silently over the GTA this week. The best passes are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Many passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of them for wherever you might be.) All the times are in Eastern Time. Click the hyperlinks to see a star chart of the pass.

Date              Start and End Times (EDT)   Direction of Travel  Max Alt.  Mag. Wed, 29-Aug  5:25:11 am to 5:28:38 am      moves SSE to E           14°      -1.1 Fri, 31-Aug     5:17:16 am to 5:21:55 am      moves S to ENE           30°      -2.4 !! Sat, 01-Sep    4:27:28 am to 4:29:19 am      moves SE to E             17°      -1.5 Sat, 01-Sep    6:00:09 am to 6:06:33 am      moves WSW to NE      67°      -3.7 !! Sun, 02-Sep   5:10:16 am to 5:14:27 am      moves SW to ENE       71°      -3.8 !!

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area ISS Passes for the week of September 1st, 2019

(Above: On Monday, September 2 from 5:00 to 5:03 am EDT, the International Space Station will glide over the GTA in a bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow over the west-northwestern horizon and then setting in the northeast.)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible silently gliding over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of passes for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date            Start & End Times (EDT)   Direction of Travel   Max Alt.   Mag. Mon, 2-Sep  4:59:49 am to 5:03:41 am   moves WNW to NE        47°       -3.2 !! Tue, 3-Sep   4:12:59 am to 4:14:58 am   moves NE to NE            32°       -2.0 Tue, 3-Sep   5:45:59 am to 5:51:33 am   moves WNW to NE        24°       -1.9 Wed, 4-Sep  4:59:00 am to 5:02:46 am   moves NW to NE           28°       -2.3 Thu, 5-Sep   4:12:07 am to 4:14:02 am   moves NNE to NE          26°       -1.7 Thu, 5-Sep   5:45:40 am to 5:50:54 am   moves NW to NE           21°       -1.6 Fri, 6-Sep     4:58:07 am to 5:01:57 am   moves NW to NE           22°       -1.7 Sat, 7-Sep   4:11:14 am to 4:13:05 am    moves NNE to NE          21°       -1.3 Sat, 7-Sep   5:45:01 am to 5:50:29 am    moves NW to ENE         22°       -1.6 Sun, 8-Sep  4:57:15 am to 5:01:21 am    moves NNW to NE         21°       -1.5

There are no visible Iridium Flares predicted for the GTA this week.

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area ISS Passes for the week of August 25th, 2019

(Above: On Wednesday, August 28 from 5:47 to 5:56 am EDT, the International Space Station will glide over the GTA in a very bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow over the southwestern horizon and then passing above Orion before setting in the east-northeast.)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible silently gliding over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of passes for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date               Start & End Times (EDT)  Direction of Travel   Max Alt.  Mag. Mon, 26-Aug  5:49:15 am to 5:54:13 am   moves S to E                 19°      -1.5 Wed, 28-Aug  5:47:26 am to 5:53:53 am   moves SW to ENE        49°      -3.1 !! Thu, 29-Aug   5:00:48 am to 5:04:53 am   moves S to ENE            29°      -2.3 Fri, 30-Aug     4:14:05 am to 4:15:36 am   moves ESE to E            16°      -1.3 Fri, 30-Aug     5:46:58 am to 5:53:02 am   moves WSW to NE        67°     -3.6 !! Sat, 31-Aug    5:00:12 am to 5:04:13 am   moves SW to ENE        76°      -3.8 !! Sun, 1-Sep     4:13:22 am to 4:15:18 am   moves E to ENE            29°     -1.9 Sun, 1-Sep     5:46:14 am to 5:51:59 am   moves W to NE             34°      -2.6 !!

There are no visible Iridium Flares predicted for the GTA this week.

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area ISS Passes for the week of August 4th, 2019

(Above: On Monday, August 5 from 9:23 to 9:29 pm EDT, the International Space Station will glide high over the GTA in a bright pass, rising from the west-northwestern horizon and then disappearing into Earth’s shadow just over the south-southeastern horizon.)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible silently gliding over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of passes for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date            Start & End Times (EDT)     Direction of Travel   Max Alt.  Mag. Sun, 4-Aug  10:12:23 pm to 10:16:13 pm  moves W to SSW          21°      -1.9 Mon, 5-Aug  9:22:39 pm to 9:28:49 pm     moves WNW to SSE     35°      -2.6 !! Wed, 7-Aug  9:21:27 pm to 9:25:13 pm     moves W to SSW          14°      -1.2

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area Iridium Flares and ISS Passes for the week of July 28th, 2019

(Above: On Saturday, August 3 from 9:24 to 9:30 pm EDT, the International Space Station will glide high over the GTA in a very bright pass, rising from the northwestern horizon and then disappearing into Earth’s shadow just over the east-southeastern horizon.)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible silently gliding over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of passes for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date             Start & End Times (EDT)     Direction of Travel   Max Alt.  Mag. Sun, 28-Jul   9:30:38 pm to 9:35:58 pm     moves NW to ENE         21°      -1.5 Sun, 28-Jul   11:07:18 pm to 11:10:54 pm  moves NW to NE           47°      -3.1 !! Mon, 29-Jul  10:18:01 pm to 10:23:11 pm  moves NW to ENE         34°      -2.4 !! Mon, 29-Jul  11:54:40 pm to 11:56:01 pm  moves WNW to WNW    21°      -1.6 Tue, 30-Jul   9:28:44 pm to 9:34:33 pm      moves NW to ENE        27°       -2.0 Tue, 30-Jul   11:05:16 pm to 11:08:20 pm  moves WNW to W         70°       -3.7 !! Wed, 31-Jul  10:15:56 pm to 10:20:41 pm moves NW to ESE         65°       -3.6 !! Thu, 1-Aug   9:26:37 pm to 9:33:03 pm      moves NW to E             43°       -2.9 !! Thu, 1-Aug   11:03:28 pm to 11:05:53 pm   moves WNW to WSW   28°      -2.3 !! Fri, 2-Aug     10:13:55 pm to 10:18:19 pm  moves WNW to SSE     52°      -3.4 !! Sat, 3-Aug    9:24:29 pm to 9:30:46 pm      moves WNW to ESE     89°      -3.8 !! Sun, 4-Aug   10:12:17 pm to 10:16:07 pm moves W to SSW           21°      -1.9

Iridium flares are glints of sunlight off of the flat reflecting sides of one of the satellites that comprise the Iridium pager and sat-phone network. The flares occur before dawn and after dusk, when the satellite passing overhead is still illuminated by the Sun, which is below the horizon for observers on the ground. The duration and brightness depend on the angles between the observer, the satellite, and the Sun. For even more info about Iridium Flares and the space station, see an article that I wrote here. The Iridium Company expects to finish replacing these satellites later this year, ending the flares, so enjoy them while you can.

Here are this week’s best Iridium Flares for the GTA. Using an accurate clock, go outside a few minutes ahead and look in the direction indicated. You should first see the dim Iridium satellite moving quickly across the sky, and then it will rapidly brighten for 3 to 8 seconds, and fade out. Truly spectacular! The more negative the Magnitude number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is! (The horizon is 0°, and 90° is straight up, so 55° is a bit higher than halfway between the horizon and zenith.) These data are adapted from www.heavens-above.com. To get your own schedule, enter your location in their website. Click the hyperlinks to see a star chart of the pass.

Date and Time (EDT)         Mag.   Alt.   Direction  Notes Thu, 1-Aug at 9:31:20 pm   -5.7     22°    264° (W)    Very Bright!

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area ISS Passes for the week of July 21st, 2019

(Above: On Monday, July 22 from 9:35 to 9:41 pm EDT, the International Space Station will glide over the GTA in a bright pass, rising from the western horizon and then sinking into the northeastern horizon.)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible silently gliding over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of passes for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date             Start & End Times (EDT)       Direction of Travel   Max Alt.  Mag. Sun, 21-Jul   10:24:38 pm to 10:30:37 pm   moves W to NE              29°     -1.7 Mon, 22-Jul  12:02:25 am to 12:07:39 am   moves NW to NE            21°     -1.2 Mon, 22-Jul  1:39:09 am to 1:40:31 am       moves NW to NW           21°     -1.4 Mon, 22-Jul  9:35:01 pm to 9:41:21 pm       moves W to NE              38°     -2.2 !! Mon, 22-Jul  11:12:53 pm to 11:18:06 pm    moves NW to NE           21°     -1.1 Tue, 23-Jul   12:49:52 am to 12:52:22 am   moves NW to N              28°     -1.7 Tue, 23-Jul   10:23:14 pm to 10:28:38 pm   moves WNW to NE        22°     -1.3 Wed, 24-Jul  12:00:33 am to 12:04:19 am   moves NW to NE           25°     -1.6 Wed, 24-Jul  9:33:32 pm to 9:39:15 pm       moves WNW to NE        25°     -1.5 Wed, 24-Jul  11:11:09 pm to 11:16:22 pm    moves NW to ENE         22°     -1.4 Thu, 25-Jul   12:47:45 am to 12:49:10 am   moves NW to NW          22°     -1.4 Thu, 25-Jul   10:21:38 pm to 10:26:51 pm   moves NW to NE           21°     -1.3 Thu, 25-Jul   11:58:26 pm to 12:01:15 am   moves NW to N              36°     -2.3 !! Fri, 26-Jul     9:32:01 pm to 9:37:18 pm       moves NW to NE           21°     -1.3 Fri, 26-Jul     11:09:06 pm to 11:13:23 pm    moves NW to NE           28°     -2.0 Sat, 27-Jul    10:19:43 pm to 10:25:17 pm   moves NW to ENE         24°     -1.7 Sat, 27-Jul    11:56:15 pm to 11:58:20 pm   moves NW to NW           35°     -2.2 !! Sun, 28-Jul   9:30:15 pm to 9:35:34 pm       moves NW to ENE         21°     -1.5 Sun, 28-Jul   11:06:54 pm to 11:10:31 pm   moves NW to NE            47°     -3.1 !!

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area Iridium Flares and ISS Passes for the week of July 14th, 2019

(Above: On Saturday, July 20 from 9:36 to 9:42 pm EDT, the International Space Station will glide high over the GTA in a very bright pass, rising from the west-southwestern horizon and then sinking into the east-northeastern horizon.)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible silently gliding over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of passes for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date             Start & End Times (EDT)     Direction of Travel  Max Alt. Mag. Mon, 15-Jul  12:58:40 am to 1:02:11 am    moves NW to NE         33°      -2.0 Mon, 15-Jul  4:10:44 am to 4:16:54 am      moves NW to E           34°      -2.0 Mon, 15-Jul  10:30:11 pm to 10:36:00 pm  moves SSW to ENE    16°      -2.2 Tue, 16-Jul   12:06:26 am to 12:12:53 am  moves W to NE           45°      -2.7 !! Tue, 16-Jul   4:57:58 am to 5:04:33 am      moves WNW to SE     75°      -3.9 !! Tue, 16-Jul   9:41:40 pm to 9:46:08 pm      moves S to E              17°      -2.2 Tue, 16-Jul   11:16:55 pm to 11:23:34 pm   moves WSW to NE     70°     -3.5 !! Wed, 17-Jul  12:54:35 am to 1:00:06 am    moves WNW to NE     23°     -1.3 Wed, 17-Jul  4:08:35 am to 4:15:11 am      moves NW to ESE      67°      -3.4 !! Wed, 17-Jul  10:27:32 pm to 10:34:11 pm  moves SW to ENE      72°      -3.9 !! Thu, 18-Jul   12:04:51 am to 12:10:43 am  moves WNW to NE     28°     -1.6 Thu, 18-Jul   1:42:34 am to 1:47:49 am      moves NW to ENE      21°     -1.1 Thu, 18-Jul   3:19:15 am to 3:25:39 am      moves NW to E           44°     -2.6 !! Thu, 18-Jul   4:56:06 am to 5:01:56 am      moves WNW to SSE   29°     -2.9 !! Thu, 18-Jul   9:38:22 pm to 9:44:43 pm      moves SSW to ENE    41°     -3.4 !! Thu, 18-Jul   11:15:09 pm to 11:21:22 pm  moves W to NE            35°     -2.1 Fri, 19-Jul     12:53:00 am to 12:58:11 am  moves NW to NE         21°     -1.1 Fri, 19-Jul     4:06:31 am to 4:12:57 am      moves WNW to SE      50°     -3.7 !! Fri, 19-Jul     10:25:29 pm to 10:32:02 pm  moves WSW to NE      51°     -2.8 !! Sat, 20-Jul    12:03:19 am to 12:08:38 am  moves WNW to NE     22°     -1.1 Sat, 20-Jul    1:40:32 am to 1:45:23 am      moves NW to ENE      26°     -1.5 Sat, 20-Jul    3:17:03 am to 3:17:55 am      moves WNW to WNW 17°     -1.6 Sat, 20-Jul    9:35:58 pm to 9:42:39 pm      moves WSW to ENE   79°     -3.6 !! Sat, 20-Jul    11:13:33 pm to 11:19:10 pm  moves WNW to NE      24°     -1.3 Sun, 21-Ju l  12:51:06 am to 12:55:30 am  moves NW to NE         22°     -1.3 Sun, 21-Jul   10:23:47 pm to 10:29:46 pm  moves W to NE           29°     -1.7

Iridium flares are glints of sunlight off of the flat reflecting sides of one of the satellites that comprise the Iridium pager and sat-phone network. The flares occur before dawn and after dusk, when the satellite passing overhead is still illuminated by the Sun, which is below the horizon for observers on the ground. The duration and brightness depend on the angles between the observer, the satellite, and the Sun. For even more info about Iridium Flares and the space station, see an article that I wrote here. The Iridium Company expects to finish replacing these satellites later this year, ending the flares, so enjoy them while you can.

Here are this week’s best Iridium Flares for the GTA. Using an accurate clock, go outside a few minutes ahead and look in the direction indicated. You should first see the dim Iridium satellite moving quickly across the sky, and then it will rapidly brighten for 3 to 8 seconds, and fade out. Truly spectacular! The more negative the Magnitude number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is! (The horizon is 0°, and 90° is straight up, so 55° is a bit higher than halfway between the horizon and zenith.) These data are adapted from www.heavens-above.com. To get your own schedule, enter your location in their website. Click the hyperlinks to see a star chart of the pass.

Date and Time (EDT)         Mag.  Alt.  Direction   Notes Sat, 20-Jul at 05:20:45 am  -4.6   16°   27° (NNE)  Very Bright!

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[astrogeoguy]

Greater Toronto Area Iridium Flares and ISS Passes for the week of July 7th, 2019

(Above: The International Space Station imaged by Philip Smith on August 17, 2015)

The ISS (International Space Station) is visible gliding silently over the GTA this week. The best passes at (mostly) convenient times are listed below. (Note: The more negative the Mag. number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is!) Some passes are high and bright! (Data adapted from www.Heavens-above.com. If you enter your location in their website, you will get a list of them for your location.) All the times are in Eastern Time.

Date              Start & End Times (EDT)   Direction of Travel  Max Alt.  Mag. Mon, 8-Jul     3:29:17 am to 3:34:05 am   moves WNW to NE       37°      -2.5 !! Tue, 9-Jul      2:41:35 am to 2:44:52 am   moves NNW to NE       54°      -3.2 !! Wed, 10-Jul  1:53:48 am to 1:55:38 am    moves NE to ENE        30°      -2.1 Thu, 11-Jul    2:38:47 am to 2:42:52 am   moves NW to NE          30°      -2.0 Fri, 12-Jul     1:50:52 am to 1:53:38 am    moves N to NE             39°      -2.4 !! Sat, 13-Jul    1:02:51 am to 1:04:22 am    moves NE to NE          24°      -1.8 Sun, 14-Jul   1:47:25 am to 1:51:35 am    moves NW to NE         26°      -1.6 Sun, 14-Jul   5:00:08 am to 5:06:35 am    moves NW to ESE       49°      -2.7 !!

Iridium flares are glints of sunlight off of the flat reflecting sides of one of the satellites that comprise the Iridium pager and sat-phone network. The flares occur before dawn and after dusk, when the satellite passing overhead is still illuminated by the Sun, which is below the horizon for observers on the ground. The duration and brightness depend on the angles between the observer, the satellite, and the Sun. For even more info about Iridium Flares and the space station, see an article that I wrote here. The Iridium Company expects to finish replacing these satellites later this year, ending the flares, so enjoy them while you can. 

Here are this week’s best Iridium Flares for the GTA. Using an accurate clock, go outside a few minutes ahead and look in the direction indicated. You should first see the dim Iridium satellite moving quickly across the sky, and then it will rapidly brighten for 3 to 8 seconds, and fade out. Truly spectacular! The more negative the Magnitude number, the brighter. The larger the Alt. number, the higher up it is! (The horizon is 0°, and 90° is straight up, so 55° is a bit higher than halfway between the horizon and zenith.) These data are adapted from www.heavens-above.com. To get your own schedule, enter your location in their website. Click the hyperlinks to see a star chart of the pass.

Date and Time (EDT)           Mag.   Alt.   Direction   Notes Wed, 10-Jul at 03:43:27 am   -2.8    38°   125° (SE)   Bright! Fri, 12-Jul at 05:01:08 am      -4.4    16°    80° (E)      Very Bright!

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!