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Sighting Location

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Location: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Jun 14, 2024 through Saturday Jun 29, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Jun 20, 4:45 AM 5 min 33° 19° above S 10° above ENE  
Fri Jun 21, 3:59 AM 2 min 17° 17° above SE 10° above E  
Sat Jun 22, 4:46 AM 5 min 64° 28° above WSW 10° above NE  
Sun Jun 23, 4:00 AM 3 min 60° 60° above ESE 10° above NE  
Mon Jun 24, 3:14 AM 1 min 17° 17° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Mon Jun 24, 4:46 AM 5 min 22° 14° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Jun 25, 4:00 AM 3 min 36° 36° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Jun 26, 3:14 AM 2 min 25° 25° above NE 10° above NE  
Wed Jun 26, 4:49 AM 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
Thu Jun 27, 2:27 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NE 10° above NE  
Thu Jun 27, 4:00 AM 3 min 15° 14° above NW 10° above N  
Fri Jun 28, 3:13 AM 2 min 20° 20° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat Jun 29, 2:27 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above NNE 10° above NNE  
{ts '2024-06-20 08:45:00'},Thu Jun 20, 4:45 AM,5 min,33°,19° above S,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-06-21 07:59:00'},Fri Jun 21, 3:59 AM,2 min,17°,17° above SE,10° above E|{ts '2024-06-22 08:46:00'},Sat Jun 22, 4:46 AM,5 min,64°,28° above WSW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-06-23 08:00:00'},Sun Jun 23, 4:00 AM,3 min,60°,60° above ESE,10° above NE|{ts '2024-06-24 07:14:00'},Mon Jun 24, 3:14 AM,1 min,17°,17° above ENE,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-06-24 08:46:00'},Mon Jun 24, 4:46 AM,5 min,22°,14° above WNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-06-25 08:00:00'},Tue Jun 25, 4:00 AM,3 min,36°,36° above NW,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-06-26 07:14:00'},Wed Jun 26, 3:14 AM,2 min,25°,25° above NE,10° above NE|{ts '2024-06-26 08:49:00'},Wed Jun 26, 4:49 AM,1 min,10°,10° above NW,10° above NNW|{ts '2024-06-27 06:27:00'},Thu Jun 27, 2:27 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NE,10° above NE|{ts '2024-06-27 08:00:00'},Thu Jun 27, 4:00 AM,3 min,15°,14° above NW,10° above N|{ts '2024-06-28 07:13:00'},Fri Jun 28, 3:13 AM,2 min,20°,20° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-06-29 06:27:00'},Sat Jun 29, 2:27 AM,< 1 min,12°,12° above NNE,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.