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Sighting Location

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Location: London, England, United Kingdom

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Jan 15, 2021 through Saturday Jan 30, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Jan 19, 6:29 PM < 1 min 13° 11° above S 13° above SSE  
Wed Jan 20, 5:43 PM 1 min 10° 10° above SSE 10° above SE  
Wed Jan 20, 7:16 PM 1 min 17° 10° above SW 17° above SW  
Thu Jan 21, 6:29 PM 3 min 31° 10° above SW 31° above SSE  
Fri Jan 22, 5:42 PM 4 min 22° 11° above SSW 16° above ESE  
Fri Jan 22, 7:19 PM 1 min 27° 15° above WSW 27° above WSW  
Sat Jan 23, 6:32 PM 3 min 56° 18° above SW 51° above SE  
Sun Jan 24, 5:45 PM 4 min 42° 21° above SW 18° above E  
Sun Jan 24, 7:21 PM < 1 min 27° 22° above W 27° above W  
Mon Jan 25, 6:34 PM 2 min 83° 27° above WSW 70° above E  
Tue Jan 26, 5:47 PM 4 min 71° 33° above WSW 18° above E  
Tue Jan 26, 7:23 PM < 1 min 27° 22° above W 27° above W  
Wed Jan 27, 6:36 PM 2 min 85° 27° above W 71° above ENE  
Thu Jan 28, 5:49 PM 4 min 87° 33° above W 19° above E  
Thu Jan 28, 7:26 PM < 1 min 33° 22° above W 33° above W  
Fri Jan 29, 6:39 PM 2 min 84° 27° above W 55° above ESE  
2021-01-19 18:29:00.0,Tue Jan 19, 6:29 PM,< 1 min,13°,11° above S,13° above SSE|2021-01-20 17:43:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 5:43 PM,1 min,10°,10° above SSE,10° above SE|2021-01-20 19:16:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 7:16 PM,1 min,17°,10° above SW,17° above SW|2021-01-21 18:29:00.0,Thu Jan 21, 6:29 PM,3 min,31°,10° above SW,31° above SSE|2021-01-22 17:42:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 5:42 PM,4 min,22°,11° above SSW,16° above ESE|2021-01-22 19:19:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 7:19 PM,1 min,27°,15° above WSW,27° above WSW|2021-01-23 18:32:00.0,Sat Jan 23, 6:32 PM,3 min,56°,18° above SW,51° above SE|2021-01-24 17:45:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 5:45 PM,4 min,42°,21° above SW,18° above E|2021-01-24 19:21:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 7:21 PM,< 1 min,27°,22° above W,27° above W|2021-01-25 18:34:00.0,Mon Jan 25, 6:34 PM,2 min,83°,27° above WSW,70° above E|2021-01-26 17:47:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 5:47 PM,4 min,71°,33° above WSW,18° above E|2021-01-26 19:23:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 7:23 PM,< 1 min,27°,22° above W,27° above W|2021-01-27 18:36:00.0,Wed Jan 27, 6:36 PM,2 min,85°,27° above W,71° above ENE|2021-01-28 17:49:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 5:49 PM,4 min,87°,33° above W,19° above E|2021-01-28 19:26:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 7:26 PM,< 1 min,33°,22° above W,33° above W|2021-01-29 18:39:00.0,Fri Jan 29, 6:39 PM,2 min,84°,27° above W,55° above ESE|

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 chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton