macpuzl
The International Space Station will be making a short series visible evening passes through Santa Barbara’s skies this week. Its orbit may change, and I’ve only listed the best events, so to get the latest and most complete predictions, visit Heavens Above.
On Monday, November 11, the ISS will pop up briefly in the SW at 6:50 PM PST, by bright Venus, disappearing into our shadow at an altitude of 33 degrees at 6:52 PM.
Tuesday’s bright pass will start at 6 PM in the SSW, and go below the dim bikini bottom shape of Capricornus, below the yellow glow of Saturn (currently with its rings appearing nearly edge-on), above the waxing gibbous Moon, and fade away in the E at 6:05 PM near the head of Aries.
On Wednesday, the station will rise at 6:47 PM in the WSW in Ophiuchus, nip the corner of the Keystone asterism in Hercules, and vanish just before reaching the Lozenge asterism marking the head of Draco in the NW at 6:50 PM.
Thursday’s visit will be the best and brightest, starting in the WSW at 5:57 PM by Venus, cruising by bright Vega, then into dim Cepheus and Camelopardalis, fading out just before reaching bright Capella in the NE at 6:02 PM.
On Friday, it will show up at 6:45 PM in the WNW for a low skim over our mountain horizon, from Ophiuchus to just above and along the tail of Ursa Major, ending in the 6:47 PM in the NNW.
The last pass on Saturday will follow a similar but higher trajectory, starting at 5:54 PM in the W, and extending into Camelopardalis in the NNE at 5:59 PM.
Look for the ISS to return to our evenings at the end of the month.
Hasta nebula,
Chuck
