ISS Over Cheongju-si Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Cheongju-si, South Korea will be visible to the naked eye on Wednesday 14 October at 04:48 GMT+9. It rises in the south and reaches a maximum elevation of 11 degrees above the horizon, a low pass close to the horizon. The pass lasts about 7 min 20 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Cheongju-si

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Wednesday 14 October
04:48 GMT+9
S → ENE11°Low7 min 20 secFaintmag 0.3
Thursday 15 October
05:36 GMT+9
SW → NE70°Excellent8 min 50 secBrightmag -2.9
Friday 16 October
04:49 GMT+9
SSW → ENE36°Good6 minModeratemag -1.8
Saturday 17 October
04:02 GMT+9
SSW → ENE20°Fair3 min 10 secFaintmag 0.8
Saturday 17 October
05:39 GMT+9
WSW → NE35°Good7 min 10 secBrightmag -2.4
Sunday 18 October
03:16 GMT+9
S → ENE11°Low20 secFaintmag 2.3
Sunday 18 October
04:51 GMT+9
SW → NE62°Excellent4 min 50 secBrightmag -2.3
Monday 19 October
04:04 GMT+9
SW → NE72°Excellent2 min 20 secFaintmag 0.8
Monday 19 October
05:41 GMT+9
W → NE16°Fair6 min 10 secModeratemag -1.2
Tuesday 20 October
03:17 GMT+9
SSW → ENE37°Good10 secFaintmag 2.3
Tuesday 20 October
04:54 GMT+9
W → NE23°Fair4 minModeratemag -1.0
Wednesday 21 October
04:06 GMT+9
WSW → NE35°Good1 min 50 secFaintmag 0.9

Showing the next 12 naked-eye visible passes over Cheongju-si, in local time (Asia/Seoul). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Cheongju-si?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Cheongju-si 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 Cheongju-si is on Wednesday 14 October at around 04:53 GMT+9, when the station climbs to 11 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 Cheongju-si

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 Cheongju-si?
The next pass over Cheongju-si is on Wednesday 14 October at 04:48 GMT+9, rising in the south. 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 Cheongju-si?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Cheongju-si 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 Cheongju-si?
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 Cheongju-si?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Cheongju-si. 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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