Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Yuma, Arizona, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 19, 2018 through Thursday Oct 4, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Sep 19, 8:04 PM 2 min 33° 10° above SSW 33° above S  
Thu Sep 20, 7:13 PM 4 min 22° 11° above S 13° above E  
Thu Sep 20, 8:49 PM 1 min 17° 11° above W 17° above W  
Fri Sep 21, 7:56 PM 5 min 49° 10° above WSW 26° above NNE  
Sat Sep 22, 7:04 PM 6 min 72° 11° above SW 10° above NE  
Sat Sep 22, 8:44 PM 1 min 12° 11° above NW 11° above NNW  
Sun Sep 23, 7:52 PM 3 min 20° 19° above NW 11° above NNE  
Mon Sep 24, 7:00 PM 3 min 36° 34° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Tue Sep 25, 7:45 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Wed Sep 26, 6:53 PM 3 min 16° 15° above NW 10° above N  
2018-09-20 03:04:00.0,Wed Sep 19, 8:04 PM,2 min,33°,10° above SSW,33° above S|2018-09-21 02:13:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 7:13 PM,4 min,22°,11° above S,13° above E|2018-09-21 03:49:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 8:49 PM,1 min,17°,11° above W,17° above W|2018-09-22 02:56:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 7:56 PM,5 min,49°,10° above WSW,26° above NNE|2018-09-23 02:04:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 7:04 PM,6 min,72°,11° above SW,10° above NE|2018-09-23 03:44:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 8:44 PM,1 min,12°,11° above NW,11° above NNW|2018-09-24 02:52:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 7:52 PM,3 min,20°,19° above NW,11° above NNE|2018-09-25 02:00:00.0,Mon Sep 24, 7:00 PM,3 min,36°,34° above WNW,11° above NNE|2018-09-26 02:45:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 7:45 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|2018-09-27 01:53:00.0,Wed Sep 26, 6:53 PM,3 min,16°,15° above NW,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