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Sighting Location

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Location: Chelmsford, England, United Kingdom

The following ISS sightings are possible from Saturday Jan 19, 2019 through Sunday Feb 3, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Jan 23, 7:13 PM < 1 min 14° 10° above SSW 14° above SSW  
Thu Jan 24, 6:22 PM 2 min 20° 11° above SSW 20° above SSE  
Fri Jan 25, 5:32 PM 3 min 13° 10° above S 10° above ESE  
Fri Jan 25, 7:06 PM 2 min 26° 10° above SW 26° above SW  
Sat Jan 26, 6:15 PM 4 min 35° 10° above SW 32° above SE  
Sat Jan 26, 7:51 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above W 12° above W  
Sun Jan 27, 5:24 PM 5 min 24° 11° above SSW 11° above E  
Sun Jan 27, 7:01 PM 1 min 43° 22° above WSW 43° above WSW  
Mon Jan 28, 6:10 PM 3 min 57° 27° above SW 34° above E  
Tue Jan 29, 5:19 PM 4 min 41° 25° above SSW 11° above E  
Tue Jan 29, 6:55 PM 1 min 74° 28° above W 74° above W  
Wed Jan 30, 6:04 PM 3 min 79° 35° above WSW 25° above E  
Wed Jan 30, 7:40 PM < 1 min 18° 18° above W 18° above W  
Thu Jan 31, 5:13 PM 4 min 64° 42° above SW 11° above E  
Thu Jan 31, 6:49 PM 2 min 88° 28° above W 86° above E  
Fri Feb 1, 5:58 PM 3 min 87° 35° above W 21° above E  
Fri Feb 1, 7:34 PM < 1 min 27° 22° above W 27° above W  
Sat Feb 2, 6:43 PM 2 min 76° 27° above W 63° above SE  
2019-01-23 19:13:00.0,Wed Jan 23, 7:13 PM,< 1 min,14°,10° above SSW,14° above SSW|2019-01-24 18:22:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 6:22 PM,2 min,20°,11° above SSW,20° above SSE|2019-01-25 17:32:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 5:32 PM,3 min,13°,10° above S,10° above ESE|2019-01-25 19:06:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 7:06 PM,2 min,26°,10° above SW,26° above SW|2019-01-26 18:15:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 6:15 PM,4 min,35°,10° above SW,32° above SE|2019-01-26 19:51:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 7:51 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above W,12° above W|2019-01-27 17:24:00.0,Sun Jan 27, 5:24 PM,5 min,24°,11° above SSW,11° above E|2019-01-27 19:01:00.0,Sun Jan 27, 7:01 PM,1 min,43°,22° above WSW,43° above WSW|2019-01-28 18:10:00.0,Mon Jan 28, 6:10 PM,3 min,57°,27° above SW,34° above E|2019-01-29 17:19:00.0,Tue Jan 29, 5:19 PM,4 min,41°,25° above SSW,11° above E|2019-01-29 18:55:00.0,Tue Jan 29, 6:55 PM,1 min,74°,28° above W,74° above W|2019-01-30 18:04:00.0,Wed Jan 30, 6:04 PM,3 min,79°,35° above WSW,25° above E|2019-01-30 19:40:00.0,Wed Jan 30, 7:40 PM,< 1 min,18°,18° above W,18° above W|2019-01-31 17:13:00.0,Thu Jan 31, 5:13 PM,4 min,64°,42° above SW,11° above E|2019-01-31 18:49:00.0,Thu Jan 31, 6:49 PM,2 min,88°,28° above W,86° above E|2019-02-01 17:58:00.0,Fri Feb 1, 5:58 PM,3 min,87°,35° above W,21° above E|2019-02-01 19:34:00.0,Fri Feb 1, 7:34 PM,< 1 min,27°,22° above W,27° above W|2019-02-02 18:43:00.0,Sat Feb 2, 6:43 PM,2 min,76°,27° above W,63° 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 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