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Sighting Location

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Location: Merced, California, 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
Wed Sep 4, 5:42 AM 6 min 35° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Thu Sep 5, 4:54 AM 6 min 23° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Fri Sep 6, 4:09 AM 2 min 17° 17° above NNE 10° above ENE  
Fri Sep 6, 5:43 AM 7 min 75° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Sat Sep 7, 4:58 AM 4 min 61° 36° above NNW 10° above ESE  
Sun Sep 8, 4:15 AM 1 min 16° 16° above E 10° above ESE  
Sun Sep 8, 5:48 AM 4 min 22° 17° above W 10° above S  
Sun Sep 8, 8:51 PM 1 min 17° 10° above SSW 17° above S  
Mon Sep 9, 5:04 AM 1 min 17° 17° above SSE 10° above SSE  
Mon Sep 9, 8:05 PM 4 min 19° 10° above S 16° above E  
Mon Sep 9, 9:41 PM 1 min 15° 10° above WSW 15° above W  
Tue Sep 10, 8:53 PM 4 min 66° 10° above WSW 47° above NNE  
Wed Sep 11, 8:06 PM 7 min 67° 10° above SW 9° above NE  
Wed Sep 11, 9:44 PM 2 min 17° 10° above WNW 17° above NW  
Thu Sep 12, 8:56 PM 5 min 24° 10° above W 15° above NNE  
Fri Sep 13, 8:08 PM 6 min 37° 10° above WSW 10° above NE  
Fri Sep 13, 9:48 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Sat Sep 14, 9:00 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Sun Sep 15, 8:11 PM 5 min 17° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Sep 17, 8:15 PM 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
{ts '2024-09-04 12:42:00'},Wed Sep 4, 5:42 AM,6 min,35°,10° above NW,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-09-05 11:54:00'},Thu Sep 5, 4:54 AM,6 min,23°,10° above NNW,10° above E|{ts '2024-09-06 11:09:00'},Fri Sep 6, 4:09 AM,2 min,17°,17° above NNE,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-09-06 12:43:00'},Fri Sep 6, 5:43 AM,7 min,75°,10° above NW,10° above SE|{ts '2024-09-07 11:58:00'},Sat Sep 7, 4:58 AM,4 min,61°,36° above NNW,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-09-08 11:15:00'},Sun Sep 8, 4:15 AM,1 min,16°,16° above E,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-09-08 12:48:00'},Sun Sep 8, 5:48 AM,4 min,22°,17° above W,10° above S|{ts '2024-09-09 03:51:00'},Sun Sep 8, 8:51 PM,1 min,17°,10° above SSW,17° above S|{ts '2024-09-09 12:04:00'},Mon Sep 9, 5:04 AM,1 min,17°,17° above SSE,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-09-10 03:05:00'},Mon Sep 9, 8:05 PM,4 min,19°,10° above S,16° above E|{ts '2024-09-10 04:41:00'},Mon Sep 9, 9:41 PM,1 min,15°,10° above WSW,15° above W|{ts '2024-09-11 03:53:00'},Tue Sep 10, 8:53 PM,4 min,66°,10° above WSW,47° above NNE|{ts '2024-09-12 03:06:00'},Wed Sep 11, 8:06 PM,7 min,67°,10° above SW,9° above NE|{ts '2024-09-12 04:44:00'},Wed Sep 11, 9:44 PM,2 min,17°,10° above WNW,17° above NW|{ts '2024-09-13 03:56:00'},Thu Sep 12, 8:56 PM,5 min,24°,10° above W,15° above NNE|{ts '2024-09-14 03:08:00'},Fri Sep 13, 8:08 PM,6 min,37°,10° above WSW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-09-14 04:48:00'},Fri Sep 13, 9:48 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|{ts '2024-09-15 04:00:00'},Sat Sep 14, 9:00 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NW,10° above N|{ts '2024-09-16 03:11:00'},Sun Sep 15, 8:11 PM,5 min,17°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-09-18 03:15:00'},Tue Sep 17, 8:15 PM,1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|

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