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Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 16, 2018 through Saturday Dec 1, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Nov 16, 5:22 AM 3 min 81° 81° above SSE 10° above SE  
Sat Nov 17, 4:32 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above ESE 12° above ESE  
Sat Nov 17, 6:05 AM 2 min 12° 11° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Sun Nov 18, 5:16 AM 1 min 16° 16° above S 10° above S  
Mon Nov 19, 7:19 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSW 10° above SSW  
Tue Nov 20, 6:28 PM 2 min 15° 10° above SSE 15° above SE  
Wed Nov 21, 7:12 PM 2 min 36° 13° above SW 36° above WSW  
Thu Nov 22, 6:19 PM 4 min 48° 10° above SSW 29° above ENE  
Fri Nov 23, 7:05 PM 2 min 24° 17° above W 24° above NNW  
Sat Nov 24, 6:13 PM 4 min 50° 32° above W 14° above NNE  
Sun Nov 25, 6:58 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NW 11° above NNW  
Mon Nov 26, 6:05 PM 4 min 20° 15° above WNW 11° above NNE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 16, 2018 through Saturday Dec 1, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Nov 18, 5:17 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above S 11° above S  
2018-11-16 12:22:00.0,Fri Nov 16, 5:22 AM,3 min,81°,81° above SSE,10° above SE|2018-11-17 11:32:00.0,Sat Nov 17, 4:32 AM,< 1 min,12°,12° above ESE,12° above ESE|2018-11-17 13:05:00.0,Sat Nov 17, 6:05 AM,2 min,12°,11° above WSW,10° above SSW|2018-11-18 12:16:00.0,Sun Nov 18, 5:16 AM,1 min,16°,16° above S,10° above S|2018-11-20 02:19:00.0,Mon Nov 19, 7:19 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SSW,10° above SSW|2018-11-21 01:28:00.0,Tue Nov 20, 6:28 PM,2 min,15°,10° above SSE,15° above SE|2018-11-22 02:12:00.0,Wed Nov 21, 7:12 PM,2 min,36°,13° above SW,36° above WSW|2018-11-23 01:19:00.0,Thu Nov 22, 6:19 PM,4 min,48°,10° above SSW,29° above ENE|2018-11-24 02:05:00.0,Fri Nov 23, 7:05 PM,2 min,24°,17° above W,24° above NNW|2018-11-25 01:13:00.0,Sat Nov 24, 6:13 PM,4 min,50°,32° above W,14° above NNE|2018-11-26 01:58:00.0,Sun Nov 25, 6:58 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NW,11° above NNW|2018-11-27 01:05:00.0,Mon Nov 26, 6:05 PM,4 min,20°,15° above WNW,11° 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