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Sighting Location

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Location: San Jose, California, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Feb 18, 2019 through Tuesday Mar 5, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Feb 20, 6:11 AM 2 min 16° 10° above S 16° above SE  
Fri Feb 22, 6:03 AM 4 min 47° 11° above SSW 38° above E  
Sat Feb 23, 5:13 AM 3 min 23° 11° above S 21° above ESE  
Sun Feb 24, 4:24 AM 1 min 11° 11° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Sun Feb 24, 5:57 AM 6 min 58° 12° above WSW 10° above NE  
Mon Feb 25, 5:08 AM 3 min 67° 67° above SSE 14° above NE  
Tue Feb 26, 4:19 AM < 1 min 16° 16° above ENE 16° above ENE  
Tue Feb 26, 5:52 AM 4 min 25° 17° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Wed Feb 27, 5:04 AM 2 min 33° 33° above N 11° above NE  
Thu Feb 28, 4:15 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NE 10° above NE  
Thu Feb 28, 5:47 AM 3 min 14° 11° above NW 10° above N  
Fri Mar 1, 4:59 AM 1 min 16° 16° above N 11° above NNE  
Sun Mar 3, 4:54 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Monday Feb 18, 2019 through Tuesday Mar 5, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Feb 22, 5:40 AM 2 min 23° 10° above S 23° above SE  
Sat Feb 23, 5:51 AM 5 min 75° 14° above SW 11° above NE  
Sun Feb 24, 6:02 AM 4 min 35° 13° above WSW 11° above NNE  
2019-02-20 14:11:00.0,Wed Feb 20, 6:11 AM,2 min,16°,10° above S,16° above SE|2019-02-22 14:03:00.0,Fri Feb 22, 6:03 AM,4 min,47°,11° above SSW,38° above E|2019-02-23 13:13:00.0,Sat Feb 23, 5:13 AM,3 min,23°,11° above S,21° above ESE|2019-02-24 12:24:00.0,Sun Feb 24, 4:24 AM,1 min,11°,11° above ESE,10° above ESE|2019-02-24 13:57:00.0,Sun Feb 24, 5:57 AM,6 min,58°,12° above WSW,10° above NE|2019-02-25 13:08:00.0,Mon Feb 25, 5:08 AM,3 min,67°,67° above SSE,14° above NE|2019-02-26 12:19:00.0,Tue Feb 26, 4:19 AM,< 1 min,16°,16° above ENE,16° above ENE|2019-02-26 13:52:00.0,Tue Feb 26, 5:52 AM,4 min,25°,17° above WNW,10° above NNE|2019-02-27 13:04:00.0,Wed Feb 27, 5:04 AM,2 min,33°,33° above N,11° above NE|2019-02-28 12:15:00.0,Thu Feb 28, 4:15 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NE,10° above NE|2019-02-28 13:47:00.0,Thu Feb 28, 5:47 AM,3 min,14°,11° above NW,10° above N|2019-03-01 12:59:00.0,Fri Mar 1, 4:59 AM,1 min,16°,16° above N,11° above NNE|2019-03-03 12:54:00.0,Sun Mar 3, 4:54 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above N|

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