Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Mar 25, 2024 through Wednesday Apr 10, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Mar 27, 8:54 PM 1 min 16° 10° above NNW 16° above N  
Thu Mar 28, 8:07 PM 2 min 12° 10° above N 11° above NE  
Thu Mar 28, 9:42 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above NW  
Fri Mar 29, 8:54 PM 2 min 35° 10° above NW 35° above NNW  
Sat Mar 30, 8:06 PM 4 min 28° 10° above NNW 22° above ENE  
Sat Mar 30, 9:43 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above WNW 11° above W  
Sun Mar 31, 8:55 PM 3 min 42° 10° above WNW 42° above WSW  
Mon Apr 1, 8:06 PM 5 min 89° 10° above NW 22° above SE  
Tue Apr 2, 8:56 PM 3 min 13° 10° above W 11° above SW  
Wed Apr 3, 8:06 PM 6 min 24° 10° above WNW 10° above S  
{ts '2024-03-28 01:54:00'},Wed Mar 27, 8:54 PM,1 min,16°,10° above NNW,16° above N|{ts '2024-03-29 01:07:00'},Thu Mar 28, 8:07 PM,2 min,12°,10° above N,11° above NE|{ts '2024-03-29 02:42:00'},Thu Mar 28, 9:42 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above NW|{ts '2024-03-30 01:54:00'},Fri Mar 29, 8:54 PM,2 min,35°,10° above NW,35° above NNW|{ts '2024-03-31 01:06:00'},Sat Mar 30, 8:06 PM,4 min,28°,10° above NNW,22° above ENE|{ts '2024-03-31 02:43:00'},Sat Mar 30, 9:43 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above WNW,11° above W|{ts '2024-04-01 01:55:00'},Sun Mar 31, 8:55 PM,3 min,42°,10° above WNW,42° above WSW|{ts '2024-04-02 01:06:00'},Mon Apr 1, 8:06 PM,5 min,89°,10° above NW,22° above SE|{ts '2024-04-03 01:56:00'},Tue Apr 2, 8:56 PM,3 min,13°,10° above W,11° above SW|{ts '2024-04-04 01:06:00'},Wed Apr 3, 8:06 PM,6 min,24°,10° above WNW,10° above S|

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.