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Location: Mesa, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 13, 2019 through Friday Oct 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Sep 16, 8:06 PM 1 min 22° 10° above SSW 22° above SSW  
Tue Sep 17, 4:20 AM < 1 min 16° 16° above SE 11° above SE  
Tue Sep 17, 7:18 PM 4 min 24° 11° above S 19° above E  
Tue Sep 17, 8:54 PM < 1 min 13° 11° above W 13° above W  
Wed Sep 18, 8:05 PM 4 min 43° 10° above WSW 34° above N  
Thu Sep 19, 7:17 PM 6 min 87° 10° above SW 11° above NE  
Thu Sep 19, 8:56 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NW  
Fri Sep 20, 8:08 PM 3 min 16° 16° above NW 10° above N  
Sat Sep 21, 7:20 PM 3 min 26° 26° above NW 11° above NNE  
Mon Sep 23, 7:19 PM 2 min 11° 11° above NW 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 13, 2019 through Friday Oct 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Sep 14, 4:43 AM 4 min 24° 10° above NNW 23° above NE  
Sun Sep 15, 4:15 AM 3 min 22° 15° above N 20° above NE  
Mon Sep 16, 3:47 AM 1 min 19° 19° above NE 15° above ENE  
Mon Sep 16, 5:21 AM 7 min 45° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Tue Sep 17, 4:54 AM 5 min 54° 35° above WNW 11° above SSE  
Tue Sep 17, 8:06 PM 2 min 29° 10° above SSW 29° above SSW  
Wed Sep 18, 4:27 AM 2 min 28° 28° above SSE 11° above SE  
Wed Sep 18, 7:37 PM 4 min 42° 11° above SSW 35° above E  
Thu Sep 19, 7:07 PM 6 min 35° 10° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Thu Sep 19, 8:46 PM 1 min 20° 15° above WNW 20° above NW  
Fri Sep 20, 8:17 PM 2 min 25° 22° above WNW 19° above N  
Sat Sep 21, 7:47 PM 4 min 29° 27° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Sun Sep 22, 7:17 PM 4 min 33° 30° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Sep 23, 6:48 PM 4 min 38° 36° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Thu Sep 26, 6:56 PM 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
2019-09-17 03:06:00.0,Mon Sep 16, 8:06 PM,1 min,22°,10° above SSW,22° above SSW|2019-09-17 11:20:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 4:20 AM,< 1 min,16°,16° above SE,11° above SE|2019-09-18 02:18:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 7:18 PM,4 min,24°,11° above S,19° above E|2019-09-18 03:54:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 8:54 PM,< 1 min,13°,11° above W,13° above W|2019-09-19 03:05:00.0,Wed Sep 18, 8:05 PM,4 min,43°,10° above WSW,34° above N|2019-09-20 02:17:00.0,Thu Sep 19, 7:17 PM,6 min,87°,10° above SW,11° above NE|2019-09-20 03:56:00.0,Thu Sep 19, 8:56 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NW,10° above NW|2019-09-21 03:08:00.0,Fri Sep 20, 8:08 PM,3 min,16°,16° above NW,10° above N|2019-09-22 02:20:00.0,Sat Sep 21, 7:20 PM,3 min,26°,26° above NW,11° above NNE|2019-09-24 02:19:00.0,Mon Sep 23, 7:19 PM,2 min,11°,11° above NW,10° above N|

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