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Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 12, 2018 through Friday Sep 28, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Sep 13, 5:27 AM 2 min 14° 10° above N 13° above NE  
Sat Sep 15, 5:19 AM 3 min 30° 10° above NNW 29° above NE  
Sun Sep 16, 4:28 AM 3 min 17° 10° above N 16° above NE  
Mon Sep 17, 5:11 AM 6 min 86° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Tue Sep 18, 4:23 AM 3 min 40° 40° above NE 10° above ESE  
Wed Sep 19, 5:07 AM 3 min 26° 26° above WSW 11° above S  
Wed Sep 19, 8:04 PM 2 min 30° 11° above SW 30° above SW  
Thu Sep 20, 7:12 PM 5 min 35° 10° above SSW 20° above ENE  
Fri Sep 21, 7:59 PM 2 min 31° 25° above WNW 25° above N  
Sat Sep 22, 7:05 PM 6 min 68° 10° above SW 10° above NE  
Sun Sep 23, 7:52 PM 2 min 14° 14° above NW 11° above N  
Mon Sep 24, 7:00 PM 3 min 24° 24° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 26, 6:52 PM 2 min 11° 11° above NW 10° above N  
2018-09-13 12:27:00.0,Thu Sep 13, 5:27 AM,2 min,14°,10° above N,13° above NE|2018-09-15 12:19:00.0,Sat Sep 15, 5:19 AM,3 min,30°,10° above NNW,29° above NE|2018-09-16 11:28:00.0,Sun Sep 16, 4:28 AM,3 min,17°,10° above N,16° above NE|2018-09-17 12:11:00.0,Mon Sep 17, 5:11 AM,6 min,86°,10° above NW,10° above SE|2018-09-18 11:23:00.0,Tue Sep 18, 4:23 AM,3 min,40°,40° above NE,10° above ESE|2018-09-19 12:07:00.0,Wed Sep 19, 5:07 AM,3 min,26°,26° above WSW,11° above S|2018-09-20 03:04:00.0,Wed Sep 19, 8:04 PM,2 min,30°,11° above SW,30° above SW|2018-09-21 02:12:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 7:12 PM,5 min,35°,10° above SSW,20° above ENE|2018-09-22 02:59:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 7:59 PM,2 min,31°,25° above WNW,25° above N|2018-09-23 02:05:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 7:05 PM,6 min,68°,10° above SW,10° above NE|2018-09-24 02:52:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 7:52 PM,2 min,14°,14° above NW,11° above N|2018-09-25 02:00:00.0,Mon Sep 24, 7:00 PM,3 min,24°,24° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-09-27 01:52:00.0,Wed Sep 26, 6:52 PM,2 min,11°,11° above NW,10° above N|

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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