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Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Jul 16, 2018 through Thursday Aug 2, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Jul 18, 8:58 PM 6 min 64° 11° above SW 11° above NE  
Wed Jul 18, 10:36 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Thu Jul 19, 5:05 AM 4 min 83° 10° above NW 61° above SSE  
Thu Jul 19, 8:06 PM 5 min 27° 10° above S 11° above ENE  
Thu Jul 19, 9:43 PM 5 min 20° 10° above W 11° above NNE  
Fri Jul 20, 4:13 AM 6 min 42° 11° above NNW 10° above ESE  
Fri Jul 20, 8:50 PM 6 min 39° 10° above WSW 11° above NNE  
Sat Jul 21, 3:22 AM 5 min 21° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Sat Jul 21, 4:58 AM 5 min 25° 11° above WNW 10° above S  
Sat Jul 21, 7:58 PM 6 min 87° 11° above SW 10° above NE  
Sun Jul 22, 2:31 AM 3 min 12° 10° above N 10° above ENE  
Sun Jul 22, 4:06 AM 6 min 60° 10° above NW 10° above SSE  
Sun Jul 22, 8:46 PM 1 min 15° 15° above NNW 10° above N  
Mon Jul 23, 7:53 PM 2 min 29° 29° above NNW 11° above NNE  
Wed Jul 25, 7:46 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above NNW 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Monday Jul 16, 2018 through Thursday Aug 2, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Jul 17, 4:19 AM 1 min 13° 10° above N 13° above NNE  
Tue Jul 17, 9:12 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSW 10° above SSW  
Tue Jul 17, 10:55 PM < 1 min 13° 13° above N 11° above N  
Wed Jul 18, 3:51 AM < 1 min 11° 10° above N 11° above NNE  
Wed Jul 18, 8:44 PM 6 min 42° 11° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Wed Jul 18, 10:22 PM 5 min 19° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Thu Jul 19, 3:23 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above N  
Thu Jul 19, 5:00 AM 7 min 78° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Thu Jul 19, 8:15 PM 6 min 37° 10° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Thu Jul 19, 9:54 PM 6 min 21° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Fri Jul 20, 4:31 AM 7 min 68° 10° above NW 11° above SE  
Fri Jul 20, 7:50 PM 4 min 32° 27° above SSE 10° above ENE  
Fri Jul 20, 9:26 PM 6 min 23° 10° above W 11° above NNE  
Sat Jul 21, 4:03 AM 7 min 59° 10° above NW 11° above ESE  
Sat Jul 21, 8:57 PM 6 min 25° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Sun Jul 22, 3:35 AM 7 min 51° 10° above NW 11° above ESE  
Sun Jul 22, 8:29 PM 6 min 28° 11° above W 10° above NNE  
Mon Jul 23, 3:07 AM 7 min 45° 10° above NNW 11° above ESE  
Mon Jul 23, 4:46 AM 4 min 14° 10° above W 11° above SSW  
Mon Jul 23, 8:04 PM 3 min 31° 31° above NNW 10° above NNE  
2018-07-19 03:58:00.0,Wed Jul 18, 8:58 PM,6 min,64°,11° above SW,11° above NE|2018-07-19 05:36:00.0,Wed Jul 18, 10:36 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above N|2018-07-19 12:05:00.0,Thu Jul 19, 5:05 AM,4 min,83°,10° above NW,61° above SSE|2018-07-20 03:06:00.0,Thu Jul 19, 8:06 PM,5 min,27°,10° above S,11° above ENE|2018-07-20 04:43:00.0,Thu Jul 19, 9:43 PM,5 min,20°,10° above W,11° above NNE|2018-07-20 11:13:00.0,Fri Jul 20, 4:13 AM,6 min,42°,11° above NNW,10° above ESE|2018-07-21 03:50:00.0,Fri Jul 20, 8:50 PM,6 min,39°,10° above WSW,11° above NNE|2018-07-21 10:22:00.0,Sat Jul 21, 3:22 AM,5 min,21°,10° above NNW,10° above E|2018-07-21 11:58:00.0,Sat Jul 21, 4:58 AM,5 min,25°,11° above WNW,10° above S|2018-07-22 02:58:00.0,Sat Jul 21, 7:58 PM,6 min,87°,11° above SW,10° above NE|2018-07-22 09:31:00.0,Sun Jul 22, 2:31 AM,3 min,12°,10° above N,10° above ENE|2018-07-22 11:06:00.0,Sun Jul 22, 4:06 AM,6 min,60°,10° above NW,10° above SSE|2018-07-23 03:46:00.0,Sun Jul 22, 8:46 PM,1 min,15°,15° above NNW,10° above N|2018-07-24 02:53:00.0,Mon Jul 23, 7:53 PM,2 min,29°,29° above NNW,11° above NNE|2018-07-26 02:46:00.0,Wed Jul 25, 7:46 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above NNW,10° above N|

Last Updated:

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