Tasmanians who have never laid eyes on the International Space Station, or who just want to catch the best glimpse possible are being encouraged to look up on Monday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Launceston astronomer Martin George says the ISS will become about as bright as it can ever get as it passes almost directly over Tasmania.
"Although the ISS is often visible, this is one of the quite prominent passages across our sky," Mr George said.
"It will pass from North West to South East. It will first become visible low in the North West at 9.20 pm, and climb through the sky, passing through the overhead point between 9.24 pm and 9.25 pm."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Mr George said the ISS will appear almost as bright as Venus and much brighter than the brightest stars.
"It will then become lower and move through the South Eastern sky, passing above and to the left of the Southern Cross. It will finally disappear from view at 9:29 pm, when it enters the Earth's shadow.
"The ISS orbits the Earth about every hour and a half in a very nearly circular path, at just over 400 kilometres altitude. At its closest to us tonight, when nearly overhead, it will be 431 kilometres from Launceston."
Night owls wanting to see the ISS a second time can look up between 10.59pm and 11.02pm, when it will be seen in the South West during its second passage.
"Although tonight [Monday] we shall see the ISS at about its brightest, it is often visible from Tasmania and most populated parts of the world," Mr George said.
"On Sunday night it was also quite prominent, reaching its maximum brightness at 10.12 pm.
"On Tuesday night, it will be seen crossing from west to south, being most prominent at 10.14 pm."
Many people did not realise lots of satellites could be seen with the unaided eye from the Earth's surface, Mr George said.
"Generally, the greatest number of satellites are seen in the late evening twilight or in the early morning twilight, when the sun is shining on the satellites but we are still mostly in darkness," he said.
"There are many ways to find out when the ISS and other satellites will be visible, such as phone apps and websites."
Mr George said his favourite website other people could access was www.heavens-above.com.
