Edmond, OK, USA - Hamilton, ON, CAN (Site 2)
Posted by: 
Bon Echo
N 43° 11.323 W 079° 40.742
17T E 607340 N 4782619
On January 21, 2020, the ISS passed near Oklahoma, and minutes later it passed near Hamilton Ontario Canada where it was observed by Bon Echo
Waymark Code: WM12077
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 01/21/2020
Views: 7
For this sighting I visited the Vinemount area of Hamilton (Ontario Canada), to get from some of the city lights. A short walk down the Dofasco 2000 trail provided an unobstructed view across an empty farm field. Unique to this pass (for me) was the close "proximity" of the projected ISS path to Venus which was shining brightly to my WSW. That made it really easy to know where to watch. Unfortunately, a biting cold wind also blew from that same direction!
I first noticed the ISS shortly before 19:23 (Eastern Time). The ISS was projected to reach an altitude of 10° for my location at 19:23:21 but it was visible for at least 45 seconds before that time. From there I watched the ISS "approach" Venus, then pass above it. It continued on, climbing and getting brighter. The ISS was projected to reach its maximum brightness at 46° at 19:25:25, at which point it would enter the earth's shadow. Using the clock times from a series of photos I captured, I found that the ISS was still as bright at 19:25:43 but was no longer visible by 19:25:56. In all, I observed the ISS for approximately 3 minutes. And with the windchill feeling like -10°C (14°F) or colder, that was more than long enough for me. But after a short time back at the vehicle to warm my hands, I set out again to enjoy a 3km (~2mi) hike not by moonlight but by city glow, with the cold dry snow crunching loudly underfoot.
My partner for this ISS sighting was Max and 99 in Edmond, OK. The ISS was predicted to pass close to Edmond. It would have been visible to them from 18:17 Central Time until 18:25 with a maximum altitude of 73°. Unfortunately, the sky over Max and 99's viewing location at Lake Arcadia was heavily clouded and she was unable to see the ISS. The distance between the two viewing locations is 1737 kilometres (1079 miles). I want to thanks Max and 99 for inviting me to join them for this sighting
This photo shows the ISS at 19:24, immediately above the larger and bright planet Venus low on the horizon. When it came into view, the ISS was a bit below and to the left of Venus. The brighter streaked light near the upper right is an airplane.
This photo shows the ISS at 19:24:55, near the upper left of the tree
This photo shows the ISS high above the tree at 19:25:43, 18 seconds after it was supposed to enter the shadow but as you can see it is still visible (it disappeared within seconds of this image being taken).
