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Location: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Nov 6, 2024 through Thursday Nov 21, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Nov 6, 4:46 AM 3 min 72° 72° above SSE 10° above SE  
Thu Nov 7, 3:59 AM < 1 min 13° 13° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Thu Nov 7, 5:32 AM 2 min 12° 11° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Fri Nov 8, 4:45 AM 1 min 14° 14° above S 10° above S  
Sun Nov 10, 6:04 PM 2 min 16° 10° above SSE 16° above SE  
Mon Nov 11, 6:50 PM 2 min 33° 10° above SW 33° above WSW  
Tue Nov 12, 6:00 PM 4 min 51° 10° above SSW 31° above ENE  
Wed Nov 13, 6:48 PM 2 min 25° 10° above W 25° above NW  
Thu Nov 14, 5:59 PM 5 min 44° 10° above WSW 20° above NNE  
Fri Nov 15, 6:50 PM 1 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above NNW  
Sat Nov 16, 6:00 PM 5 min 17° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
{ts '2024-11-06 12:46:00'},Wed Nov 6, 4:46 AM,3 min,72°,72° above SSE,10° above SE|{ts '2024-11-07 11:59:00'},Thu Nov 7, 3:59 AM,< 1 min,13°,13° above ESE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-11-07 13:32:00'},Thu Nov 7, 5:32 AM,2 min,12°,11° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2024-11-08 12:45:00'},Fri Nov 8, 4:45 AM,1 min,14°,14° above S,10° above S|{ts '2024-11-11 02:04:00'},Sun Nov 10, 6:04 PM,2 min,16°,10° above SSE,16° above SE|{ts '2024-11-12 02:50:00'},Mon Nov 11, 6:50 PM,2 min,33°,10° above SW,33° above WSW|{ts '2024-11-13 02:00:00'},Tue Nov 12, 6:00 PM,4 min,51°,10° above SSW,31° above ENE|{ts '2024-11-14 02:48:00'},Wed Nov 13, 6:48 PM,2 min,25°,10° above W,25° above NW|{ts '2024-11-15 01:59:00'},Thu Nov 14, 5:59 PM,5 min,44°,10° above WSW,20° above NNE|{ts '2024-11-16 02:50:00'},Fri Nov 15, 6:50 PM,1 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above NNW|{ts '2024-11-17 02:00:00'},Sat Nov 16, 6:00 PM,5 min,17°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|

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.