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Location: Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 20, 2023 through Thursday Oct 5, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Sep 20, 8:36 PM 5 min 83° 10° above W 26° above ENE  
Wed Sep 20, 10:13 PM 1 min 18° 10° above W 18° above WNW  
Thu Sep 21, 7:48 PM 7 min 84° 10° above WSW 9° above ENE  
Thu Sep 21, 9:25 PM 3 min 66° 10° above W 66° above NW  
Fri Sep 22, 8:37 PM 5 min 74° 10° above W 35° above ENE  
Fri Sep 22, 10:14 PM 1 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above W  
Sat Sep 23, 7:49 PM 7 min 76° 10° above W 11° above E  
Sat Sep 23, 9:26 PM 2 min 47° 10° above WNW 47° above W  
Sun Sep 24, 8:38 PM 4 min 85° 10° above W 43° above E  
Sun Sep 24, 10:15 PM 1 min 13° 10° above W 13° above W  
Mon Sep 25, 7:50 PM 6 min 77° 10° above W 14° above E  
Mon Sep 25, 9:26 PM 2 min 35° 10° above W 35° above WSW  
Tue Sep 26, 8:38 PM 4 min 65° 10° above WNW 47° above SE  
Wed Sep 27, 7:50 PM 6 min 83° 10° above WNW 17° above ESE  
Wed Sep 27, 9:27 PM 2 min 21° 10° above W 21° above WSW  
Thu Sep 28, 8:39 PM 4 min 36° 10° above W 31° above S  
Fri Sep 29, 7:51 PM 6 min 50° 10° above W 16° above SE  
Fri Sep 29, 9:29 PM 1 min 12° 10° above WSW 12° above SW  
Sat Sep 30, 8:40 PM 4 min 18° 10° above W 15° above S  
Sun Oct 1, 7:52 PM 6 min 26° 10° above W 10° above SSE  
Tue Oct 3, 7:53 PM 3 min 13° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
{ts '2023-09-20 19:36:00'},Wed Sep 20, 8:36 PM,5 min,83°,10° above W,26° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-20 21:13:00'},Wed Sep 20, 10:13 PM,1 min,18°,10° above W,18° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-21 18:48:00'},Thu Sep 21, 7:48 PM,7 min,84°,10° above WSW,9° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-21 20:25:00'},Thu Sep 21, 9:25 PM,3 min,66°,10° above W,66° above NW|{ts '2023-09-22 19:37:00'},Fri Sep 22, 8:37 PM,5 min,74°,10° above W,35° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-22 21:14:00'},Fri Sep 22, 10:14 PM,1 min,16°,10° above WNW,16° above W|{ts '2023-09-23 18:49:00'},Sat Sep 23, 7:49 PM,7 min,76°,10° above W,11° above E|{ts '2023-09-23 20:26:00'},Sat Sep 23, 9:26 PM,2 min,47°,10° above WNW,47° above W|{ts '2023-09-24 19:38:00'},Sun Sep 24, 8:38 PM,4 min,85°,10° above W,43° above E|{ts '2023-09-24 21:15:00'},Sun Sep 24, 10:15 PM,1 min,13°,10° above W,13° above W|{ts '2023-09-25 18:50:00'},Mon Sep 25, 7:50 PM,6 min,77°,10° above W,14° above E|{ts '2023-09-25 20:26:00'},Mon Sep 25, 9:26 PM,2 min,35°,10° above W,35° above WSW|{ts '2023-09-26 19:38:00'},Tue Sep 26, 8:38 PM,4 min,65°,10° above WNW,47° above SE|{ts '2023-09-27 18:50:00'},Wed Sep 27, 7:50 PM,6 min,83°,10° above WNW,17° above ESE|{ts '2023-09-27 20:27:00'},Wed Sep 27, 9:27 PM,2 min,21°,10° above W,21° above WSW|{ts '2023-09-28 19:39:00'},Thu Sep 28, 8:39 PM,4 min,36°,10° above W,31° above S|{ts '2023-09-29 18:51:00'},Fri Sep 29, 7:51 PM,6 min,50°,10° above W,16° above SE|{ts '2023-09-29 20:29:00'},Fri Sep 29, 9:29 PM,1 min,12°,10° above WSW,12° above SW|{ts '2023-09-30 19:40:00'},Sat Sep 30, 8:40 PM,4 min,18°,10° above W,15° above S|{ts '2023-10-01 18:52:00'},Sun Oct 1, 7:52 PM,6 min,26°,10° above W,10° above SSE|{ts '2023-10-03 18:53:00'},Tue Oct 3, 7:53 PM,3 min,13°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|

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