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Location: Mesa, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2019 through Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Nov 13, 5:33 AM 3 min 85° 44° above NW 17° above SE  
Thu Nov 14, 4:47 AM < 1 min 24° 24° above E 17° above ESE  
Thu Nov 14, 6:20 AM 3 min 13° 10° above W 10° above SSW  
Fri Nov 15, 5:34 AM 2 min 23° 23° above SSW 10° above S  
Sat Nov 16, 4:48 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above SSE 11° above SSE  
Sun Nov 17, 6:58 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above S 11° above SSE  
Mon Nov 18, 7:45 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above WSW 12° above WSW  
Tue Nov 19, 6:57 PM 3 min 57° 11° above SW 57° above S  
Wed Nov 20, 6:08 PM 5 min 32° 10° above SSW 19° above E  
Wed Nov 20, 7:46 PM < 1 min 14° 14° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Thu Nov 21, 6:58 PM 2 min 34° 23° above W 31° above NNW  
Fri Nov 22, 6:10 PM 4 min 65° 34° above WSW 14° above NE  
Sat Nov 23, 6:58 PM 3 min 14° 10° above WNW 13° above NNW  
Sun Nov 24, 6:10 PM 4 min 21° 18° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Tue Nov 26, 6:12 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2019 through Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Nov 11, 6:15 AM 4 min 25° 10° above NNW 22° above ENE  
Tue Nov 12, 5:43 AM 4 min 21° 12° above NNW 16° above ENE  
Wed Nov 13, 5:12 AM 3 min 18° 16° above N 14° above ENE  
Thu Nov 14, 4:41 AM 1 min 14° 14° above NE 10° above ENE  
Thu Nov 14, 6:15 AM 6 min 62° 10° above NW 15° above SSE  
Fri Nov 15, 5:44 AM 4 min 81° 33° above NW 15° above SE  
Sat Nov 16, 5:13 AM 3 min 74° 74° above E 12° above SE  
Sun Nov 17, 4:43 AM 1 min 20° 20° above ESE 12° above ESE  
Sun Nov 17, 6:17 AM 2 min 10° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Mon Nov 18, 5:46 AM 1 min 13° 13° above SW 10° above SSW  
Tue Nov 19, 6:47 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSE 10° above SSE  
Wed Nov 20, 7:50 PM < 1 min 15° 10° above SW 15° above SW  
Thu Nov 21, 7:17 PM 2 min 40° 10° above SW 40° above SW  
2019-11-13 12:33:00.0,Wed Nov 13, 5:33 AM,3 min,85°,44° above NW,17° above SE|2019-11-14 11:47:00.0,Thu Nov 14, 4:47 AM,< 1 min,24°,24° above E,17° above ESE|2019-11-14 13:20:00.0,Thu Nov 14, 6:20 AM,3 min,13°,10° above W,10° above SSW|2019-11-15 12:34:00.0,Fri Nov 15, 5:34 AM,2 min,23°,23° above SSW,10° above S|2019-11-16 11:48:00.0,Sat Nov 16, 4:48 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above SSE,11° above SSE|2019-11-18 01:58:00.0,Sun Nov 17, 6:58 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above S,11° above SSE|2019-11-19 02:45:00.0,Mon Nov 18, 7:45 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above WSW,12° above WSW|2019-11-20 01:57:00.0,Tue Nov 19, 6:57 PM,3 min,57°,11° above SW,57° above S|2019-11-21 01:08:00.0,Wed Nov 20, 6:08 PM,5 min,32°,10° above SSW,19° above E|2019-11-21 02:46:00.0,Wed Nov 20, 7:46 PM,< 1 min,14°,14° above WNW,14° above WNW|2019-11-22 01:58:00.0,Thu Nov 21, 6:58 PM,2 min,34°,23° above W,31° above NNW|2019-11-23 01:10:00.0,Fri Nov 22, 6:10 PM,4 min,65°,34° above WSW,14° above NE|2019-11-24 01:58:00.0,Sat Nov 23, 6:58 PM,3 min,14°,10° above WNW,13° above NNW|2019-11-25 01:10:00.0,Sun Nov 24, 6:10 PM,4 min,21°,18° above WNW,11° above NNE|2019-11-27 01:12:00.0,Tue Nov 26, 6:12 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|

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