ISS Over Changchun Tonight
The next pass of the International Space Station over Changchun, China will be visible to the naked eye on Saturday 27 June at 00:14 GMT+8. It rises in the south-southwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 22 degrees above the horizon, a lower pass that may be partly blocked by buildings or trees. The pass lasts about 3 min. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.
Next visible ISS passes over Changchun
| When (local time) | Direction | Max elevation | Visible for | Brightness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday 27 June 00:14 GMT+8 | SSW → ENE | 22°Fair | 3 min | Faintmag -0.3 |
Saturday 27 June 01:50 GMT+8 | WSW → ENE | 56°Very good | 7 min | Brightmag -2.7 |
Saturday 27 June 23:27 GMT+8 | S → ENE | 13°Low | 1 min 20 sec | Faintmag 0.5 |
Sunday 28 June 01:02 GMT+8 | WSW → ENE | 86°Excellent | 5 min 40 sec | Very brightmag -3.3 |
Sunday 28 June 02:40 GMT+8 | W → ENE | 25°Good | 9 min 30 sec | Moderatemag -1.1 |
Monday 29 June 00:15 GMT+8 | SW → ENE | 58°Very good | 4 min | Moderatemag -1.4 |
Monday 29 June 01:52 GMT+8 | W → ENE | 31°Good | 7 min 50 sec | Moderatemag -1.4 |
Monday 29 June 23:27 GMT+8 | SW → ENE | 35°Good | 2 min 30 sec | Faintmag -0.2 |
Tuesday 30 June 01:04 GMT+8 | WSW → ENE | 40°Good | 6 min 30 sec | Moderatemag -1.9 |
Tuesday 30 June 02:41 GMT+8 | WNW → ENE | 21°Fair | 10 min 6 sec | Faintmag -0.6 |
Tuesday 30 June 22:39 GMT+8 | SSW → ENE | 21°Fair | 1 min | Faintmag 0.5 |
Wednesday 1 July 00:16 GMT+8 | WSW → ENE | 57°Very good | 5 min 10 sec | Brightmag -2.3 |
Showing the next 12 naked-eye visible passes over Changchun, in local time (Asia/Shanghai). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.
Can you see the ISS from Changchun?
Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Changchun several times a month, whenever it passes overhead during the hour or two after sunset or before sunrise while it is still catching sunlight against a dark sky. No telescope is needed; the station is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is easily seen with the unaided eye. Your next good opportunity from Changchun is on Saturday 27 June at around 00:19 GMT+8, when the station climbs to 22 degrees above the horizon.
About the International Space Station
The International Space Station is the largest human-made structure in orbit, about the size of a football pitch and weighing roughly 420 tonnes. It circles the Earth at an altitude of around 420 kilometres and a speed of about 28,000 kilometres per hour, completing one orbit roughly every 90 minutes. That means the crew on board see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
Because the station is so large and its solar panels are so reflective, it shines by reflected sunlight and can become one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It is visible from the ground without any equipment whenever it passes overhead during twilight, when the observer is in darkness but the station high above is still bathed in sunlight.
How to spot the ISS from Changchun
Find a spot with a clear view of the sky and as little light pollution as possible. A few minutes before the pass time listed above, look towards the rising direction shown for the pass. You do not need a telescope or binoculars; the station is easily bright enough to see with your eyes alone.
The ISS appears as a steady, bright point of light that glides smoothly across the sky. Unlike an aircraft it has no flashing or coloured lights. A pass lasts only a few minutes, and the station may suddenly fade and disappear partway across the sky as it crosses into the Earth’s shadow, so be ready and keep watching.
Frequently asked questions
- When can I see the ISS from Changchun?
- The next pass over Changchun is on Saturday 27 June at 00:14 GMT+8, rising in the south-southwest. The best times to look are during the dark hours just after dusk and just before dawn, when the station is lit by the Sun while the sky around you is dark.
- Which direction does the ISS appear from in Changchun?
- The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Changchun begin in the western half of the sky and travel towards the east. Each pass on this page lists the exact rise and set directions.
- How bright is the ISS over Changchun?
- During a high pass the ISS can reach magnitude -3 to -4, brighter than any star or planet. It looks like a steady white dot moving across the sky over a few minutes. It does not blink or have coloured lights, which is how you tell it apart from an aircraft.
- Do I need a telescope to see the ISS from Changchun?
- No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Changchun. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.
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