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Location: Bay City, Michigan, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 4, 2024 through Thursday Sep 19, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Sep 5, 4:48 AM 4 min 34° 33° above N 10° above E  
Thu Sep 5, 6:22 AM 7 min 46° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Fri Sep 6, 4:03 AM < 1 min 13° 13° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Fri Sep 6, 5:36 AM 5 min 77° 28° above WNW 10° above SE  
Sat Sep 7, 4:52 AM 2 min 35° 35° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Sat Sep 7, 6:25 AM 4 min 17° 11° above W 10° above S  
Sun Sep 8, 5:41 AM 2 min 23° 23° above SSW 10° above SSE  
Mon Sep 9, 9:34 PM 1 min 17° 10° above SSW 17° above S  
Tue Sep 10, 8:48 PM 3 min 19° 10° above S 17° above ESE  
Tue Sep 10, 10:23 PM 1 min 16° 10° above WSW 16° above WSW  
Wed Sep 11, 9:36 PM 4 min 85° 10° above SW 75° above ENE  
Thu Sep 12, 8:49 PM 6 min 51° 10° above SW 14° above ENE  
Thu Sep 12, 10:26 PM 2 min 23° 10° above W 23° above WNW  
Fri Sep 13, 9:38 PM 4 min 42° 10° above W 32° above NNE  
Sat Sep 14, 8:51 PM 7 min 61° 10° above WSW 11° above NE  
Sat Sep 14, 10:29 PM 2 min 20° 10° above WNW 20° above NW  
Sun Sep 15, 9:41 PM 4 min 26° 10° above WNW 22° above NNE  
Mon Sep 16, 8:53 PM 6 min 31° 10° above W 9° above NE  
Mon Sep 16, 10:31 PM 1 min 16° 10° above NW 16° above NNW  
Tue Sep 17, 9:43 PM 3 min 20° 10° above NW 19° above NNE  
Wed Sep 18, 8:55 PM 5 min 22° 10° above WNW 11° above NE  
Wed Sep 18, 10:33 PM 1 min 14° 10° above NW 14° above NW  
{ts '2024-09-05 08:48:00'},Thu Sep 5, 4:48 AM,4 min,34°,33° above N,10° above E|{ts '2024-09-05 10:22:00'},Thu Sep 5, 6:22 AM,7 min,46°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2024-09-06 08:03:00'},Fri Sep 6, 4:03 AM,< 1 min,13°,13° above ENE,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-09-06 09:36:00'},Fri Sep 6, 5:36 AM,5 min,77°,28° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2024-09-07 08:52:00'},Sat Sep 7, 4:52 AM,2 min,35°,35° above ESE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-09-07 10:25:00'},Sat Sep 7, 6:25 AM,4 min,17°,11° above W,10° above S|{ts '2024-09-08 09:41:00'},Sun Sep 8, 5:41 AM,2 min,23°,23° above SSW,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-09-10 01:34:00'},Mon Sep 9, 9:34 PM,1 min,17°,10° above SSW,17° above S|{ts '2024-09-11 00:48:00'},Tue Sep 10, 8:48 PM,3 min,19°,10° above S,17° above ESE|{ts '2024-09-11 02:23:00'},Tue Sep 10, 10:23 PM,1 min,16°,10° above WSW,16° above WSW|{ts '2024-09-12 01:36:00'},Wed Sep 11, 9:36 PM,4 min,85°,10° above SW,75° above ENE|{ts '2024-09-13 00:49:00'},Thu Sep 12, 8:49 PM,6 min,51°,10° above SW,14° above ENE|{ts '2024-09-13 02:26:00'},Thu Sep 12, 10:26 PM,2 min,23°,10° above W,23° above WNW|{ts '2024-09-14 01:38:00'},Fri Sep 13, 9:38 PM,4 min,42°,10° above W,32° above NNE|{ts '2024-09-15 00:51:00'},Sat Sep 14, 8:51 PM,7 min,61°,10° above WSW,11° above NE|{ts '2024-09-15 02:29:00'},Sat Sep 14, 10:29 PM,2 min,20°,10° above WNW,20° above NW|{ts '2024-09-16 01:41:00'},Sun Sep 15, 9:41 PM,4 min,26°,10° above WNW,22° above NNE|{ts '2024-09-17 00:53:00'},Mon Sep 16, 8:53 PM,6 min,31°,10° above W,9° above NE|{ts '2024-09-17 02:31:00'},Mon Sep 16, 10:31 PM,1 min,16°,10° above NW,16° above NNW|{ts '2024-09-18 01:43:00'},Tue Sep 17, 9:43 PM,3 min,20°,10° above NW,19° above NNE|{ts '2024-09-19 00:55:00'},Wed Sep 18, 8:55 PM,5 min,22°,10° above WNW,11° above NE|{ts '2024-09-19 02:33:00'},Wed Sep 18, 10:33 PM,1 min,14°,10° above NW,14° above NW|

What am I looking for in the sky?

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

Below is a time-lapse photo of the space station moving across the sky.

The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Visit the NASA Johnson Flickr Photostream

How do I Spot The Station?

What does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm's length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Astronomical Horizon chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton