Spot The Station

Sighting Location

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

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The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Jul 8, 2020 through Friday Jul 24, 2020

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Wed Jul 8, 6:18 PM	4 min	17°	11° above S	10° above ESE
Wed Jul 8, 7:54 PM	2 min	30°	10° above WSW	30° above WSW
Thu Jul 9, 7:07 PM	5 min	81°	10° above SW	22° above NE
Fri Jul 10, 6:19 PM	6 min	43°	10° above SSW	10° above ENE
Fri Jul 10, 7:59 PM	2 min	14°	14° above WNW	10° above NNW
Sat Jul 11, 7:11 PM	3 min	26°	26° above NW	11° above N
Sun Jul 12, 6:20 PM	6 min	50°	10° above WSW	11° above NNE
Tue Jul 14, 6:26 PM	< 1 min	11°	11° above NNW	10° above NNW
Sat Jul 18, 7:02 AM	1 min	15°	11° above NNE	15° above NNE
Mon Jul 20, 7:02 AM	6 min	58°	11° above NNW	11° above SE
Tue Jul 21, 6:14 AM	4 min	29°	10° above NNW	26° above ENE
Wed Jul 22, 5:29 AM	1 min	16°	15° above NE	15° above ENE
Wed Jul 22, 7:03 AM	6 min	38°	12° above WNW	10° above SSE
Thu Jul 23, 6:17 AM	4 min	72°	54° above WNW	10° above SE

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

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.