The ISS Returns
updated: Jun 16, 2015, 1:45 PM

By Chuck McPartlin

Once again, the International Space Station will be cruising above Santa Barbara, with some nice visible passes during the next week.

On Tuesday, June 16, the ISS will rise in the NW at 10:22 PM, climbing briefly above our mountain horizon to disappear into the shadow of the Earth at 10:24, having just transited the bowl of the Little Dipper.

On Wednesday, it will appear at 9:28 PM in the NNW, and pass along the mountains to vanish as it approaches the bright Summer Triangle star Altair, low in the E at 9:33 PM. It will pop up again on its next orbit at 11:05 PM in the WNW by brilliant Venus and Jupiter, and disappear near the star Regulus 30 seconds later.

Thursday night at 10:11 PM, the ISS will rise in the WNW and pass above Venus and Jupiter, along the back of Leo, and disappear at 10:14 while high in the sky in Coma Berenices.

On Friday, June 19, it will make its brightest pass of this series, rising at 9:17 PM in the NW, and passing high across our sky to enter shadow in the ESE, in Serpens Cauda, the tail of the snake held by Ophiuchus.

Saturday evening's pass will start at 10:01 PM in the W, and will pass low below Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon, disappearing in Corvus to the SW at 10:12 PM.

On Sunday, Summer Solstice, it will rise at 9:07 PM in the WNW, and pass above Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon to set in the SSE at 9:12.

The ISS will make its last appearance for the week on Tuesday, June 23, when it will rise at 8:57 PM in the W and make a long, low pass to the SSW, disappearing at 9:01 PM.

Hasta nebula - Chuck