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Location: Barnstaple, England, United Kingdom

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Dec 7, 2018 through Sunday Dec 23, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 7, 5:28 PM 4 min 86° 23° above W 20° above E  
Fri Dec 7, 7:05 PM < 1 min 23° 20° above W 23° above WSW  
Sat Dec 8, 4:39 PM 1 min 24° 24° above E 11° above E  
Sat Dec 8, 6:13 PM 2 min 51° 26° above W 38° above SSE  
Sun Dec 9, 5:20 PM 5 min 71° 28° above W 10° above ESE  
Sun Dec 9, 6:57 PM < 1 min 20° 17° above WSW 20° above SW  
Mon Dec 10, 6:06 PM 3 min 30° 28° above SW 13° above SSE  
Tue Dec 11, 5:13 PM 4 min 45° 36° above WSW 11° above SE  
Tue Dec 11, 6:50 PM 1 min 11° 11° above SW 10° above SSW  
Wed Dec 12, 5:58 PM 2 min 17° 17° above SW 10° above S  
Thu Dec 13, 5:06 PM 3 min 26° 26° above SSW 10° above SSE  
Sat Dec 15, 4:59 PM 1 min 13° 13° above SSW 10° above S  
Sat Dec 22, 7:38 AM 1 min 14° 10° above S 14° above SSE  

The following DRAGON sightings are possible from Friday Dec 7, 2018 through Sunday Dec 23, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 7, 7:06 PM < 1 min 21° 21° above W 21° above W  
Sat Dec 8, 4:39 PM 1 min 24° 24° above E 11° above E  
Sat Dec 8, 6:13 PM 2 min 51° 26° above W 38° above SSE  
2018-12-07 17:28:00.0,Fri Dec 7, 5:28 PM,4 min,86°,23° above W,20° above E|2018-12-07 19:05:00.0,Fri Dec 7, 7:05 PM,< 1 min,23°,20° above W,23° above WSW|2018-12-08 16:39:00.0,Sat Dec 8, 4:39 PM,1 min,24°,24° above E,11° above E|2018-12-08 18:13:00.0,Sat Dec 8, 6:13 PM,2 min,51°,26° above W,38° above SSE|2018-12-09 17:20:00.0,Sun Dec 9, 5:20 PM,5 min,71°,28° above W,10° above ESE|2018-12-09 18:57:00.0,Sun Dec 9, 6:57 PM,< 1 min,20°,17° above WSW,20° above SW|2018-12-10 18:06:00.0,Mon Dec 10, 6:06 PM,3 min,30°,28° above SW,13° above SSE|2018-12-11 17:13:00.0,Tue Dec 11, 5:13 PM,4 min,45°,36° above WSW,11° above SE|2018-12-11 18:50:00.0,Tue Dec 11, 6:50 PM,1 min,11°,11° above SW,10° above SSW|2018-12-12 17:58:00.0,Wed Dec 12, 5:58 PM,2 min,17°,17° above SW,10° above S|2018-12-13 17:06:00.0,Thu Dec 13, 5:06 PM,3 min,26°,26° above SSW,10° above SSE|2018-12-15 16:59:00.0,Sat Dec 15, 4:59 PM,1 min,13°,13° above SSW,10° above S|2018-12-22 07:38:00.0,Sat Dec 22, 7:38 AM,1 min,14°,10° above S,14° above SSE|

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