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Location: Dortmund, Germany

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Jan 16, 2019 through Friday Feb 1, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Jan 23, 6:40 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above SSE 11° above SE  
Thu Jan 24, 7:22 PM 2 min 22° 10° above SW 22° above SSW  
Fri Jan 25, 6:32 PM 3 min 21° 11° above SSW 18° above ESE  
Fri Jan 25, 8:07 PM < 1 min 15° 10° above WSW 15° above WSW  
Sat Jan 26, 5:41 PM 3 min 14° 10° above S 10° above ESE  
Sat Jan 26, 7:17 PM 2 min 45° 15° above SW 45° above SSW  
Sun Jan 27, 6:25 PM 4 min 37° 14° above SW 22° above E  
Sun Jan 27, 8:02 PM < 1 min 22° 18° above W 22° above W  
Mon Jan 28, 7:11 PM 2 min 76° 28° above WSW 75° above SE  
Tue Jan 29, 6:20 PM 3 min 60° 33° above SW 19° above E  
Tue Jan 29, 7:56 PM < 1 min 28° 22° above W 28° above W  
Wed Jan 30, 7:05 PM 2 min 86° 28° above W 66° above E  
2019-01-23 17:40:00.0,Wed Jan 23, 6:40 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above SSE,11° above SE|2019-01-24 18:22:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 7:22 PM,2 min,22°,10° above SW,22° above SSW|2019-01-25 17:32:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 6:32 PM,3 min,21°,11° above SSW,18° above ESE|2019-01-25 19:07:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 8:07 PM,< 1 min,15°,10° above WSW,15° above WSW|2019-01-26 16:41:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 5:41 PM,3 min,14°,10° above S,10° above ESE|2019-01-26 18:17:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 7:17 PM,2 min,45°,15° above SW,45° above SSW|2019-01-27 17:25:00.0,Sun Jan 27, 6:25 PM,4 min,37°,14° above SW,22° above E|2019-01-27 19:02:00.0,Sun Jan 27, 8:02 PM,< 1 min,22°,18° above W,22° above W|2019-01-28 18:11:00.0,Mon Jan 28, 7:11 PM,2 min,76°,28° above WSW,75° above SE|2019-01-29 17:20:00.0,Tue Jan 29, 6:20 PM,3 min,60°,33° above SW,19° above E|2019-01-29 18:56:00.0,Tue Jan 29, 7:56 PM,< 1 min,28°,22° above W,28° above W|2019-01-30 18:05:00.0,Wed Jan 30, 7:05 PM,2 min,86°,28° above W,66° above E|

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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton