Spot The Station

Sighting Location

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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

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The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Dec 6, 2024 through Sunday Dec 22, 2024

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Fri Dec 6, 8:38 PM	1 min	21°	10° above NW	21° above NW
Sat Dec 7, 7:49 PM	6 min	45°	10° above NNW	10° above SE
Sat Dec 7, 9:28 PM	3 min	12°	10° above WSW	10° above SSW
Sun Dec 8, 4:01 AM	5 min	17°	10° above S	10° above E
Sun Dec 8, 8:38 PM	5 min	21°	10° above W	10° above S
Mon Dec 9, 7:48 PM	6 min	40°	10° above WNW	10° above SSE
Tue Dec 10, 4:00 AM	7 min	60°	10° above SW	10° above NE
Wed Dec 11, 3:11 AM	6 min	28°	10° above SSW	10° above ENE
Wed Dec 11, 7:49 PM	3 min	13°	10° above WSW	10° above S
Thu Dec 12, 2:23 AM	4 min	16°	10° above S	10° above E
Thu Dec 12, 4:01 AM	4 min	30°	23° above W	10° above N

{ts '2024-12-06 18:38:00'},Fri Dec 6, 8:38 PM,1 min,21°,10° above NW,21° above NW|{ts '2024-12-07 17:49:00'},Sat Dec 7, 7:49 PM,6 min,45°,10° above NNW,10° above SE|{ts '2024-12-07 19:28:00'},Sat Dec 7, 9:28 PM,3 min,12°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2024-12-08 02:01:00'},Sun Dec 8, 4:01 AM,5 min,17°,10° above S,10° above E|{ts '2024-12-08 18:38:00'},Sun Dec 8, 8:38 PM,5 min,21°,10° above W,10° above S|{ts '2024-12-09 17:48:00'},Mon Dec 9, 7:48 PM,6 min,40°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-12-10 02:00:00'},Tue Dec 10, 4:00 AM,7 min,60°,10° above SW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-12-11 01:11:00'},Wed Dec 11, 3:11 AM,6 min,28°,10° above SSW,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-12-11 17:49:00'},Wed Dec 11, 7:49 PM,3 min,13°,10° above WSW,10° above S|{ts '2024-12-12 00:23:00'},Thu Dec 12, 2:23 AM,4 min,16°,10° above S,10° above E|{ts '2024-12-12 02:01:00'},Thu Dec 12, 4:01 AM,4 min,30°,23° above W,10° above N|

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.