Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday May 22, 2019 through Thursday Jun 6, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed May 22, 7:50 PM 2 min 17° 17° above NNW 10° above N  
Fri May 31, 10:06 PM < 1 min 15° 12° above N 15° above N  
Sat Jun 1, 9:17 PM 2 min 12° 10° above N 12° above NE  
Sun Jun 2, 10:04 PM < 1 min 23° 19° above NNW 23° above NNW  
Mon Jun 3, 9:15 PM 2 min 29° 16° above NNW 29° above NE  
Tue Jun 4, 8:25 PM 4 min 17° 10° above N 11° above ENE  
Tue Jun 4, 10:01 PM 1 min 20° 12° above WNW 20° above WNW  
Wed Jun 5, 9:13 PM 2 min 81° 29° above NW 78° above S  
2019-05-23 02:50:00.0,Wed May 22, 7:50 PM,2 min,17°,17° above NNW,10° above N|2019-06-01 05:06:00.0,Fri May 31, 10:06 PM,< 1 min,15°,12° above N,15° above N|2019-06-02 04:17:00.0,Sat Jun 1, 9:17 PM,2 min,12°,10° above N,12° above NE|2019-06-03 05:04:00.0,Sun Jun 2, 10:04 PM,< 1 min,23°,19° above NNW,23° above NNW|2019-06-04 04:15:00.0,Mon Jun 3, 9:15 PM,2 min,29°,16° above NNW,29° above NE|2019-06-05 03:25:00.0,Tue Jun 4, 8:25 PM,4 min,17°,10° above N,11° above ENE|2019-06-05 05:01:00.0,Tue Jun 4, 10:01 PM,1 min,20°,12° above WNW,20° above WNW|2019-06-06 04:13:00.0,Wed Jun 5, 9:13 PM,2 min,81°,29° above NW,78° above S|

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