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Sighting Location

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Location: Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Apr 23, 2025 through Thursday May 8, 2025

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Apr 24, 4:42 AM 4 min 30° 27° above WNW 10° above NE  
Fri Apr 25, 3:56 AM 2 min 34° 34° above NNE 10° above NE  
Fri Apr 25, 5:31 AM 3 min 13° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Apr 26, 3:11 AM 1 min 15° 15° above NE 10° above NE  
Sat Apr 26, 4:44 AM 4 min 16° 13° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sun Apr 27, 3:57 AM 2 min 21° 21° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Apr 28, 3:11 AM 1 min 17° 17° above NNE 10° above NE  
Mon Apr 28, 4:46 AM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Tue Apr 29, 3:58 AM 2 min 13° 12° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Wed Apr 30, 3:11 AM 1 min 15° 15° above N 10° above NNE  
Thu May 1, 5:36 AM 3 min 13° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Fri May 2, 3:12 AM 1 min 11° 11° above NNW 10° above N  
Fri May 2, 4:49 AM 2 min 11° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat May 3, 2:25 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Sun May 4, 4:49 AM 4 min 16° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Mon May 5, 4:01 AM 3 min 13° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Tue May 6, 3:14 AM 2 min 11° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Tue May 6, 4:49 AM 6 min 29° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Wed May 7, 4:01 AM 5 min 21° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Thu May 8, 3:14 AM 4 min 16° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Thu May 8, 4:50 AM 7 min 77° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
{ts '2025-04-24 08:42:00'},Thu Apr 24, 4:42 AM,4 min,30°,27° above WNW,10° above NE|{ts '2025-04-25 07:56:00'},Fri Apr 25, 3:56 AM,2 min,34°,34° above NNE,10° above NE|{ts '2025-04-25 09:31:00'},Fri Apr 25, 5:31 AM,3 min,13°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-04-26 07:11:00'},Sat Apr 26, 3:11 AM,1 min,15°,15° above NE,10° above NE|{ts '2025-04-26 08:44:00'},Sat Apr 26, 4:44 AM,4 min,16°,13° above NW,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-04-27 07:57:00'},Sun Apr 27, 3:57 AM,2 min,21°,21° above NNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-04-28 07:11:00'},Mon Apr 28, 3:11 AM,1 min,17°,17° above NNE,10° above NE|{ts '2025-04-28 08:46:00'},Mon Apr 28, 4:46 AM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above N|{ts '2025-04-29 07:58:00'},Tue Apr 29, 3:58 AM,2 min,13°,12° above NNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-04-30 07:11:00'},Wed Apr 30, 3:11 AM,1 min,15°,15° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-01 09:36:00'},Thu May 1, 5:36 AM,3 min,13°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|{ts '2025-05-02 07:12:00'},Fri May 2, 3:12 AM,1 min,11°,11° above NNW,10° above N|{ts '2025-05-02 08:49:00'},Fri May 2, 4:49 AM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-03 06:25:00'},Sat May 3, 2:25 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNE,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-04 08:49:00'},Sun May 4, 4:49 AM,4 min,16°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-05 08:01:00'},Mon May 5, 4:01 AM,3 min,13°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|{ts '2025-05-06 07:14:00'},Tue May 6, 3:14 AM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-06 08:49:00'},Tue May 6, 4:49 AM,6 min,29°,10° above NW,10° above E|{ts '2025-05-07 08:01:00'},Wed May 7, 4:01 AM,5 min,21°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-08 07:14:00'},Thu May 8, 3:14 AM,4 min,16°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-08 08:50:00'},Thu May 8, 4:50 AM,7 min,77°,10° above NW,10° above SE|

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