Tiangong Station Pass

When & where to look

The Tiangong space station crosses the western sky at magnitude -0.8 — brighter than most stars, though dimmer than the ISS. It peaks at 41° elevation during a comfortable five-minute evening pass, a single steady light with a crew of three aboard.

Field notes

• 01Easy naked-eye target, even from the city.
• 02It moves at roughly the apparent speed of a high aircraft — but silent and steady.
• 03Compare its brightness with nearby stars to calibrate your sense of magnitude.