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.
Passes from Adelaide (ACDST/ACST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -1.2 | 06:54:56 | 10° | SSW | 06:57:25 | 18° | SSE | 06:59:53 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 04 Apr | -0.9 | 06:07:18 | 10° | S | 06:08:56 | 13° | SSE | 06:10:33 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 05 Apr | -2.7 | 06:54:31 | 10° | SW | 06:57:50 | 45° | SE | 07:01:06 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -1.8 | 06:07:13 | 15° | SSW | 06:09:26 | 27° | SE | 06:12:22 | 10° | E | visible |
| 07 Apr | -1.0 | 04:21:24 | 17° | SE | 04:21:24 | 17° | SE | 04:23:19 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -3.5 | 05:54:34 | 10° | WSW | 05:57:53 | 51° | NW | 06:01:10 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -3.7 | 05:08:38 | 45° | SW | 05:09:34 | 80° | SE | 05:12:56 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.2 | 04:23:03 | 21° | E | 04:23:03 | 21° | E | 04:24:24 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.8 | 05:56:00 | 12° | W | 05:57:37 | 15° | NW | 05:59:39 | 10° | NNW | visible |
| 10 Apr | -2.1 | 05:10:31 | 23° | NNW | 05:10:31 | 23° | NNW | 05:12:18 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -1.7 | 19:21:38 | 10° | N | 19:22:52 | 17° | NNE | 19:22:52 | 17° | NNE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -1.6 | 18:34:30 | 10° | NNE | 18:36:07 | 13° | NE | 18:37:12 | 11° | ENE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -1.0 | 20:09:11 | 10° | WNW | 20:10:09 | 17° | WNW | 20:10:09 | 17° | WNW | visible |
Passes from Brisbane (AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 07 Apr | -1.4 | 04:52:10 | 10° | SSW | 04:54:53 | 22° | SE | 04:57:34 | 10° | E | visible |
| 08 Apr | -0.8 | 04:05:41 | 12° | SSE | 04:06:22 | 13° | SE | 04:07:58 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -3.7 | 04:53:03 | 24° | SW | 04:54:56 | 80° | SE | 04:58:18 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.7 | 04:07:33 | 29° | E | 04:07:33 | 29° | E | 04:09:40 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.9 | 19:03:56 | 10° | NNW | 19:05:25 | 22° | N | 19:05:25 | 22° | N | visible |
| 11 Apr | -2.3 | 04:55:06 | 23° | NW | 04:55:06 | 23° | NW | 04:57:24 | 10° | N | visible |
| 11 Apr | -2.1 | 18:16:20 | 10° | N | 18:18:45 | 18° | NE | 18:19:54 | 16° | E | visible |
| 11 Apr | -0.4 | 19:52:27 | 10° | W | 19:52:51 | 12° | W | 19:52:51 | 12° | W | visible |
| 12 Apr | -3.0 | 19:03:29 | 10° | WNW | 19:06:47 | 49° | SW | 19:07:12 | 46° | SSW | visible |
Passes from Darwin (ACST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 08 Apr | -2.7 | 20:03:56 | 10° | NNW | 20:06:08 | 34° | N | 20:06:08 | 34° | N | visible |
| 09 Apr | -0.9 | 05:58:51 | 10° | S | 06:01:03 | 16° | SE | 06:03:15 | 10° | E | visible |
| 09 Apr | -2.3 | 19:16:15 | 10° | N | 19:18:51 | 21° | NE | 19:20:49 | 14° | E | visible |
| 09 Apr | -0.2 | 20:53:36 | 10° | W | 20:53:47 | 11° | W | 20:53:47 | 11° | W | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.9 | 20:04:02 | 10° | WNW | 20:07:00 | 29° | SW | 20:08:23 | 21° | S | visible |
| 11 Apr | -3.7 | 05:58:04 | 14° | SSW | 06:00:55 | 77° | SE | 06:04:14 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -3.5 | 19:15:13 | 10° | NW | 19:18:33 | 72° | SW | 19:21:55 | 10° | SSE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -2.0 | 05:12:41 | 30° | ESE | 05:12:41 | 30° | ESE | 05:15:28 | 10° | ENE | visible |
Passes from Hobart (AEDST/AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -2.0 | 05:49:23 | 21° | SSW | 05:50:46 | 27° | SSE | 05:53:47 | 10° | E | visible |
| 04 Apr | -1.2 | 05:03:18 | 20° | SE | 05:03:18 | 20° | SE | 05:05:08 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 04 Apr | -3.6 | 06:36:14 | 11° | SW | 06:39:31 | 77° | SSE | 06:42:55 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 05 Apr | -3.0 | 05:50:13 | 36° | SSW | 05:51:11 | 49° | SSE | 05:54:31 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -1.3 | 05:04:16 | 23° | ESE | 05:04:16 | 23° | ESE | 05:05:57 | 10° | E | visible |
| 06 Apr | -3.2 | 06:37:13 | 16° | WSW | 06:39:35 | 40° | NW | 06:42:47 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -3.8 | 04:51:24 | 69° | NNW | 04:51:24 | 69° | NNW | 04:54:41 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -0.9 | 04:05:41 | 15° | ENE | 04:05:41 | 15° | ENE | 04:06:20 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -1.9 | 05:38:38 | 15° | WNW | 05:39:19 | 15° | NW | 05:41:25 | 10° | N | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.5 | 04:53:03 | 16° | N | 04:53:03 | 16° | N | 04:53:58 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -1.1 | 19:07:11 | 10° | NNE | 19:07:11 | 10° | NNE | 19:07:11 | 10° | NNE | visible |
Passes from Melbourne (AEDST/AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -0.9 | 05:49:24 | 10° | S | 05:50:43 | 12° | SSE | 05:52:06 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 04 Apr | -1.9 | 06:36:46 | 10° | SSW | 06:39:49 | 28° | SSE | 06:42:49 | 10° | E | visible |
| 05 Apr | -1.4 | 05:50:13 | 17° | S | 05:51:22 | 20° | SSE | 05:53:58 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -0.4 | 05:04:17 | 12° | SE | 05:04:17 | 12° | SE | 05:04:52 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -3.6 | 06:37:13 | 14° | SW | 06:40:05 | 75° | SE | 06:43:28 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -2.8 | 04:51:24 | 41° | SSE | 04:51:42 | 42° | SE | 04:54:57 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -0.4 | 04:05:41 | 13° | E | 04:05:41 | 13° | E | 04:06:12 | 10° | E | visible |
| 08 Apr | -2.9 | 05:38:39 | 24° | W | 05:40:00 | 33° | NW | 05:43:05 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -2.4 | 04:53:03 | 32° | NNE | 04:53:03 | 32° | NNE | 04:55:03 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.3 | 05:40:31 | 10° | NW | 05:40:31 | 10° | NW | 05:40:36 | 10° | NW | visible |
| 11 Apr | -0.8 | 19:52:51 | 10° | NNW | 19:52:51 | 10° | NNW | 19:52:51 | 10° | NNW | visible |
| 12 Apr | -2.0 | 19:05:11 | 10° | N | 19:07:12 | 18° | NE | 19:07:12 | 18° | NE | visible |
Passes from Perth (AWST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 03 Apr | -0.9 | 05:59:06 | 10° | S | 06:00:52 | 13° | SSE | 06:02:39 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 05 Apr | -2.1 | 05:58:12 | 10° | SSW | 06:01:20 | 33° | SE | 06:04:27 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -1.3 | 05:10:18 | 10° | SSW | 05:12:55 | 20° | SE | 05:15:29 | 10° | E | visible |
| 07 Apr | -0.7 | 04:24:21 | 13° | SSE | 04:24:22 | 13° | SSE | 04:25:59 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -3.7 | 05:58:03 | 10° | SW | 06:01:26 | 68° | NW | 06:04:47 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -3.3 | 05:11:35 | 29° | SSW | 05:13:05 | 58° | SE | 05:16:26 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -1.2 | 04:26:00 | 22° | E | 04:26:00 | 22° | E | 04:27:42 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 09 Apr | -2.1 | 05:58:58 | 11° | W | 06:01:12 | 18° | NW | 06:03:35 | 10° | N | visible |
| 10 Apr | -2.8 | 05:13:29 | 32° | NNW | 05:13:29 | 32° | NNW | 05:16:01 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -2.5 | 19:23:40 | 10° | NNW | 19:25:50 | 29° | NNE | 19:25:50 | 29° | NNE | visible |
| 12 Apr | -2.1 | 18:36:01 | 10° | N | 18:38:26 | 19° | NE | 18:40:09 | 13° | E | visible |
| 12 Apr | -0.9 | 20:11:56 | 10° | WNW | 20:13:05 | 18° | W | 20:13:05 | 18° | W | visibl |
Passes from Sydney (AEDST/AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 04 Apr | -1.7 | 06:38:37 | 10° | SSW | 06:41:34 | 26° | SE | 06:44:30 | 10° | E | visible |
| 05 Apr | -1.1 | 05:50:47 | 10° | SSW | 05:53:07 | 17° | SSE | 05:55:27 | 10° | ESE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -0.7 | 05:04:17 | 11° | SSE | 05:04:35 | 12° | SSE | 05:05:49 | 10° | SE | visible |
| 06 Apr | -3.6 | 06:38:23 | 10° | SW | 06:41:48 | 81° | SE | 06:45:11 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 07 Apr | -2.6 | 04:51:23 | 19° | SSW | 04:53:26 | 42° | SE | 04:56:41 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 08 Apr | -1.4 | 04:05:41 | 23° | SE | 04:05:41 | 23° | SE | 04:07:51 | 10° | E | visible |
| 08 Apr | -2.6 | 05:38:45 | 10° | WSW | 05:41:42 | 27° | NW | 05:44:36 | 10° | N | visible |
| 09 Apr | -3.7 | 04:53:03 | 51° | WNW | 04:53:24 | 54° | NW | 04:56:42 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 10 Apr | -1.1 | 04:07:33 | 17° | NE | 04:07:33 | 17° | NE | 04:08:24 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 11 Apr | -1.1 | 04:55:06 | 10° | NNW | 04:55:06 | 10° | NNW | 04:55:10 | 10° | NNW | visible |
| 11 Apr | -0.5 | 19:52:48 | 10° | NW | 19:52:52 | 11° | NW | 19:52:52 | 11° | NW | visible |
| 12 Apr | -3.3 | 19:04:24 | 10° | NNW | 19:07:12 | 48° | N | 19:07:12 | 48° | 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/Tiangong appearing due to orbit changes
not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for
your site.
Labels: ISS, Mars, Moon, Satellite, Saturn, tiangong, unaided eye, Venus
