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Sighting Location

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Location: San Jose, California, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Dec 11, 2019 through Friday Dec 27, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Dec 11, 5:57 PM 6 min 45° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Thu Dec 12, 5:12 PM 3 min 88° 75° above NW 11° above SE  
Fri Dec 13, 6:01 PM 1 min 13° 13° above SSW 10° above SSW  
Sat Dec 14, 5:12 PM 2 min 24° 24° above SSW 10° above S  
Thu Dec 19, 6:36 AM 2 min 21° 11° above S 21° above SSE  
Fri Dec 20, 5:49 AM < 1 min 12° 10° above SSE 12° above SE  
Sat Dec 21, 6:35 AM 6 min 79° 10° above SW 10° above NE  
Sun Dec 22, 5:47 AM 6 min 39° 10° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Mon Dec 23, 5:01 AM 1 min 21° 20° above SE 19° above ESE  
Mon Dec 23, 6:36 AM 6 min 34° 11° above W 10° above NNE  
Tue Dec 24, 5:49 AM 4 min 59° 50° above W 11° above NE  
Wed Dec 25, 5:03 AM 1 min 19° 19° above NE 10° above NE  
Wed Dec 25, 6:36 AM 4 min 16° 11° above WNW 10° above NNE  
2019-12-12 01:57:00.0,Wed Dec 11, 5:57 PM,6 min,45°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|2019-12-13 01:12:00.0,Thu Dec 12, 5:12 PM,3 min,88°,75° above NW,11° above SE|2019-12-14 02:01:00.0,Fri Dec 13, 6:01 PM,1 min,13°,13° above SSW,10° above SSW|2019-12-15 01:12:00.0,Sat Dec 14, 5:12 PM,2 min,24°,24° above SSW,10° above S|2019-12-19 14:36:00.0,Thu Dec 19, 6:36 AM,2 min,21°,11° above S,21° above SSE|2019-12-20 13:49:00.0,Fri Dec 20, 5:49 AM,< 1 min,12°,10° above SSE,12° above SE|2019-12-21 14:35:00.0,Sat Dec 21, 6:35 AM,6 min,79°,10° above SW,10° above NE|2019-12-22 13:47:00.0,Sun Dec 22, 5:47 AM,6 min,39°,10° above SSW,11° above ENE|2019-12-23 13:01:00.0,Mon Dec 23, 5:01 AM,1 min,21°,20° above SE,19° above ESE|2019-12-23 14:36:00.0,Mon Dec 23, 6:36 AM,6 min,34°,11° above W,10° above NNE|2019-12-24 13:49:00.0,Tue Dec 24, 5:49 AM,4 min,59°,50° above W,11° above NE|2019-12-25 13:03:00.0,Wed Dec 25, 5:03 AM,1 min,19°,19° above NE,10° above NE|2019-12-25 14:36:00.0,Wed Dec 25, 6:36 AM,4 min,16°,11° above WNW,10° 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