THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PASSES CLOSE BY TO THE PLANETS VENUS, SATURN, JUPITER AND MARS THIS EVENING! - 25/01/2025
This evening, there will an opportunity to witness the International Space Station as it flies over our early evening skies. Not only this, the ISS will also pass close by to the bright planets Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. This close fly by will make this early evening's ISS pass a particularly special occasion and one you may wish to observe!
During the early evening twilight, just after sunset at around 16:55pm, you will be able to spot the ISS appear rising from the West. The Space Station will appear like a bright star like object ascending in the sky travelling towards the South. Although when the Station first appears it will be fairly dimly lit and will appear to be travelling quite slow, as the ISS climbs higher in the sky it will shine brighter and appear to travel faster.
At around 16:58 the ISS will travel close by to the super bright planet Venus and the amazing ringed planet Saturn in the South-West. Saturn might be hard to spot at this stage of twilight, but you may be able to find Saturn just below Venus. At this moment in time, the ISS will be shining at an impressive magnitude of around -2.5. From here, the ISS will continue to travel towards the South, continuing to shine brighter and travel faster across the sky.
Around 16:59 the ISS will reach its highest point in the sky at about 54 degrees high towards the South, shining at a remarkable magnitude of -3.77. The Station will then begin to descend travelling towards the East and will appear to travel slower from this moment.
At 17:00 the Space Station will begin to travel close by to the bright planet Jupiter in the South-West. At this moment the ISS will be shining at its brightest at an incredible magnitude of -4.00 (almost as bright as Venus!).
After passing Jupiter, the ISS will pass through the constellation of Orion and begin to become dimmer as it descends towards the East where it will disappear as it enters the Earth’s shadow at around 17:04. You will be able to spot the red planet Mars not too far away towards the East-North-East nearby to the two bright stars Pollux and Castor - the twins of Gemini.
ANOTHER CHANCE TO SPOT THE ISS LATER IN THE EVENING
The ISS will also make a shorter appearance later on in the evening under darker skies. This pass may be easier to see under the darker skies but the station will only be passing close by to Venus and Saturn before it disappears.
Look towards the Western horizon at roughly 18:31 to see the ISS rise. The station will rise travelling Southwards and will pass close by to the bright planet Venus and Saturn at around 18:34 shining at magnitude -1.7.
The Station will then continue ascending towards the South where it will reach its highest point in the sky 38 degrees high at around 18:36, shining at a magnitude of -3.5. Shortly after this the ISS will disappear as it travels into the Earth's shadow at around 18:37 in the South-South-East.
CLOSING WORDS FROM ASTRO DOG
Tonight’s first planetary ISS pass will be a special occasion and will make for a beautiful post sunset sight during the early evening twilight. However, don’t worry if you can’t head out to see the first pass, there will be another opportunity to see the station later in the evening.
If you head to enjoy this special ISS pass we wish you good luck and clear skies!