FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: ISS pass and planetary gathering Sunday morning

[Joe Orman <joe.orman@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I watched this ISS pass this morning from Usery Mountain Regional Park, in the 
far East Valley.  Was surprised to see another satellite about 2 minutes ahead 
of ISS on the same track, but much dimmer.  Does anyone know what this could 
have been?  A supply vessel, perhaps?  Heavens-above shows a military satellite 
called USA 193 following almost the same track as ISS this morning at magnitude 
+1.7, but only 15 seconds ahead of ISS so it doesn't quite match my 
observation.  I took photos of both passes, and will share them when I get the 
film developed.
   
  Venus and the crescent moon (with earthshine) were a beautiful sight in the 
eastern sky, but I couldn't see Saturn or Regulus due to clouds along the 
horizon.  I took some photos of this scene also, but I'm sure they'll look just 
like the other zillion photos I've taken of Venus and the moon with a saguaro 
in the foreground.     ;-)
   
  --Joe
  
Joe Orman  wrote:
  For early risers, the International Space Station will make an 
almost-straight-overhead pass over Phoenix starting about 5:13 a.m. Sunday 
(9/9). Will pass very close to Capella, and about 20 degrees away from Mars and 
Aldebaran. This is about 50 minutes before sunrise, so the sky should be fairly 
dark, and at magnitude -2.5 the ISS should be very obvious. See 
heavens-above.com for pass details.

Then turn your attention to the east and enjoy the arrangement of Venus, the 
Moon, Saturn and Regulus. Here's the entry from my Sky Events Almanac:
September 9 (morning): Venus 10 degrees to upper right of crescent Moon, Saturn 
and bright star Regulus 7 degrees below Moon, low in E before sunrise. 





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