ISS pass close to Mars and Moon (and would- be Venus!)

From: Robert Holdsworth (robbonz1@xtra.co.nz)
Date: Sat Jan 03 2004 - 04:50:14 EST

  • Next message: Leo Barhorst: "Re: Obs Jan 3 morning"

    I have just witnessed the ISS  passing close to Mars and the Moon
    consecutively.
    
    The pass would also have been a transit or near transit past Venus, but
    unfortunately that was impossible to observe because of hills obscuring the
    ISS and Venus at that point.
    
    The ISS was first observed at 0916 UTC (3 January)  approximately due west
    at 30 degrees- according to predictions it should have been visible before
    this, but there was some cloud cover and I may also not have picked it up
    when it first visible.
    
    It passed by Mars at approximately 09:16:40 UTC  and the Moon at 09:17:57,
    entering shadow at 09:18:24 around 20 degrees - predicted shadow entry was
    due North but I estimate it occurred a little east of North.
    
    Predicted magnitude was 0.6 but in my estimation it was a little brighter,
    and was still quite clearly visible close to a bright moon.
    
    Sorry about the lack of precision of this observation but I don't have the
    equipment to do better.
    
    Unfortunately no pictures as my veteran 35 mm cam died some time ago and I
    have not yet replaced it- probably with digital when finance permits!
    
    Robert Holdsworth
    Wainuiomata
    New Zealand
    41.2610°S, 174.9470°E
    UTC plus 13 (NZ Daylight Time)
    
    
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