
Amazing Predawn Sightings: Catch the Tiangong Space Station and ISS This Week!
2025-07-04
Author: Mei
Astro Alert: A Celestial Showdown in the Sky!
This week, stargazers across much of the U.S. and southern Canada are in for a cosmic treat! The two largest space vessels orbiting our planet—the International Space Station (ISS) and China's Tiangong space station—will make their dazzling appearances within minutes of each other.
Rise and shine early on July 5, and you might even spot both stations together in the predawn sky! What a sight to behold!
Space Junk vs. Satellites: The Battle in the Night Sky!
When you step outside during dawn or dusk, keep an eye on the sky—you won’t have to wait long before spotting one of the 30,700 satellites zipping around Earth. While many of these are just remnants and defunct objects floating in space, some are visible to the naked eye.
Out of the sea of satellites, approximately 500 can be seen without a telescope. These larger satellites, around 20 feet or more in size and orbiting at altitudes between 100 and 400 miles, twinkle like rogue stars darting across the sky.
The ISS: A Giant in the Sky!
The ISS reigns supreme as the largest and brightest object in our orbit, dwarfing even the renowned Mir space station. Weighing in at an astonishing 925,000 pounds and stretching about 357 feet wide, it's nearly the length of a football field!
Equipped with massive solar panels extending longer than a Boeing 777’s wingspan, the ISS isn’t just vast; it’s also unusually bright, shining up to 2.5 times brighter than Venus on a good night!
Meet Tiangong: China's Orbital Marvel!
Not to be overshadowed, Tiangong—translating to 'Heavenly Palace'—is China's proudly operated space station. Although smaller than the ISS, with three modules and a mass of 77 tons, Tiangong serves as an experimental platform for future spacecraft technology.
While it might not outshine the ISS that often, during prime visibility, it shines close to the brilliance of Venus!
Your Ultimate Viewing Guide!
From now until late July, North Americans and Europeans will have multiple opportunities to witness both the ISS and Tiangong soaring through the night sky. With shorter nights this season, both stations can remain illuminated for extended periods, allowing for several sightings.
Between now and July 8, keep your eyes peeled one to two hours before sunrise to catch both of these spectacular sights sharing the sky.
How to Track Them Live!
Want to know when to look up? Check out Chris Peat’s Heavens Above or NASA’s Spot the Station. Simply enter your location, and you’ll get precise timings for the ISS and Tiangong sightings.
With sightings updated regularly, you’ll never miss a moment of this stellar experience!
Prepare for a Cosmic Adventure!
So mark your calendars and set your alarms—this week promises to be a magical time for skywatching as the ISS and Tiangong serenade us from above! Don’t miss out on this extraordinary chance to witness human ingenuity among the stars.