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Sighting Location

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Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Oct 14, 2019 through Monday Nov 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Oct 14, 7:23 PM 2 min 34° 10° above NNW 34° above NNE  
Tue Oct 15, 6:35 PM 4 min 17° 10° above NNE 10° above E  
Tue Oct 15, 8:13 PM < 1 min 14° 14° above WSW 14° above SW  
Wed Oct 16, 7:22 PM 6 min 31° 10° above WNW 11° above S  
Thu Oct 17, 5:20 AM 1 min 16° 11° above SSE 16° above SE  
Thu Oct 17, 6:33 PM 6 min 84° 10° above NW 11° above SE  
Sat Oct 19, 5:18 AM 6 min 88° 10° above SW 10° above NE  
Sat Oct 19, 6:37 PM 1 min 15° 15° above SW 10° above SSW  
Sun Oct 20, 4:31 AM 5 min 33° 16° above S 11° above ENE  
Mon Oct 21, 5:20 AM 3 min 17° 15° above WNW 11° above NNW  
2019-10-14 16:23:00.0,Mon Oct 14, 7:23 PM,2 min,34°,10° above NNW,34° above NNE|2019-10-15 15:35:00.0,Tue Oct 15, 6:35 PM,4 min,17°,10° above NNE,10° above E|2019-10-15 17:13:00.0,Tue Oct 15, 8:13 PM,< 1 min,14°,14° above WSW,14° above SW|2019-10-16 16:22:00.0,Wed Oct 16, 7:22 PM,6 min,31°,10° above WNW,11° above S|2019-10-17 02:20:00.0,Thu Oct 17, 5:20 AM,1 min,16°,11° above SSE,16° above SE|2019-10-17 15:33:00.0,Thu Oct 17, 6:33 PM,6 min,84°,10° above NW,11° above SE|2019-10-19 02:18:00.0,Sat Oct 19, 5:18 AM,6 min,88°,10° above SW,10° above NE|2019-10-19 15:37:00.0,Sat Oct 19, 6:37 PM,1 min,15°,15° above SW,10° above SSW|2019-10-20 01:31:00.0,Sun Oct 20, 4:31 AM,5 min,33°,16° above S,11° above ENE|2019-10-21 02:20:00.0,Mon Oct 21, 5:20 AM,3 min,17°,15° above WNW,11° above NNW|

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