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Location: Potsdam, Germany

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Apr 17, 2024 through Thursday May 2, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Apr 23, 4:45 AM 3 min 12° 10° above SSE 10° above ESE  
Thu Apr 25, 4:43 AM 5 min 23° 11° above SSW 10° above E  
Fri Apr 26, 3:55 AM 3 min 16° 15° above SSE 10° above ESE  
Sat Apr 27, 3:08 AM 1 min 11° 11° above SE 10° above ESE  
Sat Apr 27, 4:41 AM 6 min 40° 13° above SW 10° above E  
Sun Apr 28, 3:54 AM 4 min 30° 25° above S 10° above E  
Mon Apr 29, 3:06 AM 2 min 21° 21° above SE 10° above E  
Mon Apr 29, 4:39 AM 6 min 62° 12° above WSW 10° above E  
Tue Apr 30, 2:19 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Tue Apr 30, 3:52 AM 4 min 49° 31° above SW 10° above E  
Wed May 1, 3:04 AM 3 min 37° 37° above SE 10° above E  
Wed May 1, 4:37 AM 7 min 78° 10° above W 10° above E  
Thu May 2, 2:17 AM 1 min 17° 17° above ESE 10° above E  
Thu May 2, 3:50 AM 5 min 70° 24° above WSW 10° above E  
{ts '2024-04-23 02:45:00'},Tue Apr 23, 4:45 AM,3 min,12°,10° above SSE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-04-25 02:43:00'},Thu Apr 25, 4:43 AM,5 min,23°,11° above SSW,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-26 01:55:00'},Fri Apr 26, 3:55 AM,3 min,16°,15° above SSE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-04-27 01:08:00'},Sat Apr 27, 3:08 AM,1 min,11°,11° above SE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-04-27 02:41:00'},Sat Apr 27, 4:41 AM,6 min,40°,13° above SW,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-28 01:54:00'},Sun Apr 28, 3:54 AM,4 min,30°,25° above S,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-29 01:06:00'},Mon Apr 29, 3:06 AM,2 min,21°,21° above SE,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-29 02:39:00'},Mon Apr 29, 4:39 AM,6 min,62°,12° above WSW,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-30 00:19:00'},Tue Apr 30, 2:19 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above ESE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-04-30 01:52:00'},Tue Apr 30, 3:52 AM,4 min,49°,31° above SW,10° above E|{ts '2024-05-01 01:04:00'},Wed May 1, 3:04 AM,3 min,37°,37° above SE,10° above E|{ts '2024-05-01 02:37:00'},Wed May 1, 4:37 AM,7 min,78°,10° above W,10° above E|{ts '2024-05-02 00:17:00'},Thu May 2, 2:17 AM,1 min,17°,17° above ESE,10° above E|{ts '2024-05-02 01:50:00'},Thu May 2, 3:50 AM,5 min,70°,24° above WSW,10° above E|

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.