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Location: Roanoke, Virginia, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday May 2, 2025 through Saturday May 17, 2025

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat May 3, 5:38 AM 4 min 14° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Sun May 4, 4:51 AM 2 min 11° 10° above N 10° above NE  
Mon May 5, 5:38 AM 6 min 29° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Tue May 6, 4:51 AM 5 min 20° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Wed May 7, 4:04 AM 4 min 14° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Wed May 7, 5:39 AM 7 min 83° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Thu May 8, 3:16 AM 2 min 11° 10° above N 10° above NE  
Thu May 8, 4:52 AM 6 min 45° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Thu May 8, 9:33 PM 6 min 46° 10° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Thu May 8, 11:11 PM 2 min 20° 10° above W 20° above NW  
Fri May 9, 4:04 AM 6 min 28° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Fri May 9, 5:41 AM 6 min 28° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Fri May 9, 8:46 PM 6 min 25° 10° above S 10° above ENE  
Fri May 9, 10:22 PM 6 min 31° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Sat May 10, 3:18 AM 4 min 19° 16° above N 10° above ENE  
Sat May 10, 4:52 AM 7 min 54° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Sat May 10, 9:34 PM 7 min 51° 10° above WSW 10° above NE  
Sat May 10, 11:13 PM 2 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Sun May 11, 4:10 AM 1 min 22° 22° above SE 10° above SE  
Sun May 11, 10:24 PM 4 min 15° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Mon May 12, 9:35 PM 5 min 21° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Wed May 14, 9:38 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Fri May 16, 12:06 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above N  
{ts '2025-05-03 09:38:00'},Sat May 3, 5:38 AM,4 min,14°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-04 08:51:00'},Sun May 4, 4:51 AM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NE|{ts '2025-05-05 09:38:00'},Mon May 5, 5:38 AM,6 min,29°,10° above NNW,10° above E|{ts '2025-05-06 08:51:00'},Tue May 6, 4:51 AM,5 min,20°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-07 08:04:00'},Wed May 7, 4:04 AM,4 min,14°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-07 09:39:00'},Wed May 7, 5:39 AM,7 min,83°,10° above NW,10° above SE|{ts '2025-05-08 07:16:00'},Thu May 8, 3:16 AM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NE|{ts '2025-05-08 08:52:00'},Thu May 8, 4:52 AM,6 min,45°,10° above NW,10° above ESE|{ts '2025-05-09 01:33:00'},Thu May 8, 9:33 PM,6 min,46°,10° above SSW,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-09 03:11:00'},Thu May 8, 11:11 PM,2 min,20°,10° above W,20° above NW|{ts '2025-05-09 08:04:00'},Fri May 9, 4:04 AM,6 min,28°,10° above NNW,10° above E|{ts '2025-05-09 09:41:00'},Fri May 9, 5:41 AM,6 min,28°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2025-05-10 00:46:00'},Fri May 9, 8:46 PM,6 min,25°,10° above S,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-10 02:22:00'},Fri May 9, 10:22 PM,6 min,31°,10° above W,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-10 07:18:00'},Sat May 10, 3:18 AM,4 min,19°,16° above N,10° above ENE|{ts '2025-05-10 08:52:00'},Sat May 10, 4:52 AM,7 min,54°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2025-05-11 01:34:00'},Sat May 10, 9:34 PM,7 min,51°,10° above WSW,10° above NE|{ts '2025-05-11 03:13:00'},Sat May 10, 11:13 PM,2 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above N|{ts '2025-05-11 08:10:00'},Sun May 11, 4:10 AM,1 min,22°,22° above SE,10° above SE|{ts '2025-05-12 02:24:00'},Sun May 11, 10:24 PM,4 min,15°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-13 01:35:00'},Mon May 12, 9:35 PM,5 min,21°,10° above W,10° above NNE|{ts '2025-05-15 01:38:00'},Wed May 14, 9:38 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above N|{ts '2025-05-16 04:06:00'},Fri May 16, 12:06 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above N,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