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Sighting Location

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Location: Mesa, Arizona, United States

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

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Jan 18, 7:22 PM < 1 min 15° 11° above S 15° above S  
Sat Jan 19, 6:32 PM 2 min 11° 10° above SE 11° above ESE  
Sat Jan 19, 8:06 PM < 1 min 15° 12° above WSW 15° above WSW  
Sun Jan 20, 7:15 PM 3 min 79° 11° above SW 72° above E  
Mon Jan 21, 6:24 PM 5 min 34° 10° above SSW 14° above ENE  
Mon Jan 21, 8:02 PM < 1 min 15° 13° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Tue Jan 22, 7:11 PM 2 min 33° 26° above WNW 24° above N  
Wed Jan 23, 6:20 PM 4 min 70° 45° above WSW 10° above NE  
Thu Jan 24, 7:04 PM 3 min 15° 12° above WNW 10° above N  
Fri Jan 25, 6:14 PM 4 min 25° 22° above WNW 10° above NNE  
2019-01-19 02:22:00.0,Fri Jan 18, 7:22 PM,< 1 min,15°,11° above S,15° above S|2019-01-20 01:32:00.0,Sat Jan 19, 6:32 PM,2 min,11°,10° above SE,11° above ESE|2019-01-20 03:06:00.0,Sat Jan 19, 8:06 PM,< 1 min,15°,12° above WSW,15° above WSW|2019-01-21 02:15:00.0,Sun Jan 20, 7:15 PM,3 min,79°,11° above SW,72° above E|2019-01-22 01:24:00.0,Mon Jan 21, 6:24 PM,5 min,34°,10° above SSW,14° above ENE|2019-01-22 03:02:00.0,Mon Jan 21, 8:02 PM,< 1 min,15°,13° above WNW,15° above WNW|2019-01-23 02:11:00.0,Tue Jan 22, 7:11 PM,2 min,33°,26° above WNW,24° above N|2019-01-24 01:20:00.0,Wed Jan 23, 6:20 PM,4 min,70°,45° above WSW,10° above NE|2019-01-25 02:04:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 7:04 PM,3 min,15°,12° above WNW,10° above N|2019-01-26 01:14:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 6:14 PM,4 min,25°,22° above WNW,10° above NNE|

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