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Location: Mesa, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Jul 22, 2019 through Tuesday Aug 6, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Jul 22, 8:08 PM 1 min 13° 13° above NNW 10° above N  
Mon Jul 29, 10:28 PM < 1 min 11° 11° above N 11° above N  
Tue Jul 30, 9:40 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNE 11° above NNE  
Thu Aug 1, 9:37 PM 1 min 21° 13° above NNW 21° above N  
Fri Aug 2, 8:48 PM 3 min 15° 10° above N 13° above NE  
Fri Aug 2, 10:23 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above WNW 12° above WNW  
Sat Aug 3, 8:00 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Sat Aug 3, 9:35 PM < 1 min 36° 23° above NW 36° above NW  
Sun Aug 4, 8:46 PM 3 min 36° 18° above NNW 32° above ENE  
Mon Aug 5, 7:56 PM 5 min 21° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Mon Aug 5, 9:33 PM 1 min 24° 13° above WNW 24° above W  
2019-07-23 03:08:00.0,Mon Jul 22, 8:08 PM,1 min,13°,13° above NNW,10° above N|2019-07-30 05:28:00.0,Mon Jul 29, 10:28 PM,< 1 min,11°,11° above N,11° above N|2019-07-31 04:40:00.0,Tue Jul 30, 9:40 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNE,11° above NNE|2019-08-02 04:37:00.0,Thu Aug 1, 9:37 PM,1 min,21°,13° above NNW,21° above N|2019-08-03 03:48:00.0,Fri Aug 2, 8:48 PM,3 min,15°,10° above N,13° above NE|2019-08-03 05:23:00.0,Fri Aug 2, 10:23 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above WNW,12° above WNW|2019-08-04 03:00:00.0,Sat Aug 3, 8:00 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNE,10° above NNE|2019-08-04 04:35:00.0,Sat Aug 3, 9:35 PM,< 1 min,36°,23° above NW,36° above NW|2019-08-05 03:46:00.0,Sun Aug 4, 8:46 PM,3 min,36°,18° above NNW,32° above ENE|2019-08-06 02:56:00.0,Mon Aug 5, 7:56 PM,5 min,21°,10° above NNW,10° above E|2019-08-06 04:33:00.0,Mon Aug 5, 9:33 PM,1 min,24°,13° above WNW,24° above W|

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