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Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday May 14, 2021 through Saturday May 29, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri May 14, 9:31 PM 7 min 66° 10° above SW 10° above NE  
Fri May 14, 11:09 PM 5 min 18° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Sat May 15, 2:27 AM 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat May 15, 4:02 AM 6 min 36° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Sat May 15, 8:44 PM 6 min 35° 10° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Sat May 15, 10:21 PM 6 min 25° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Sun May 16, 3:15 AM 6 min 24° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Sun May 16, 4:51 AM 6 min 37° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Sun May 16, 9:33 PM 6 min 38° 10° above WSW 10° above NE  
Sun May 16, 11:13 PM 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Mon May 17, 4:07 AM 3 min 71° 70° above WSW 10° above SE  
Mon May 17, 8:45 PM 7 min 66° 10° above WSW 10° above NE  
Mon May 17, 10:24 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Tue May 18, 9:36 PM 5 min 17° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Wed May 19, 8:48 PM 6 min 25° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Thu May 20, 9:40 PM 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Fri May 21, 8:51 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Sat May 22, 12:07 AM 1 min 12° 10° above N 12° above N  
Sat May 22, 11:21 PM 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Mon May 24, 12:09 AM 1 min 16° 10° above NNW 16° above NNW  
Mon May 24, 11:22 PM 2 min 17° 10° above NNW 17° above NNE  
Tue May 25, 10:35 PM 3 min 13° 10° above N 10° above NE  
Wed May 26, 12:10 AM < 1 min 14° 10° above NW 14° above NW  
Wed May 26, 9:48 PM 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Wed May 26, 11:23 PM 2 min 28° 10° above NW 28° above N  
Thu May 27, 10:36 PM 3 min 25° 10° above NNW 24° above NE  
Fri May 28, 9:49 PM 5 min 17° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Fri May 28, 11:25 PM 1 min 24° 10° above NW 24° above WNW  
2021-05-15 04:31:00.0,Fri May 14, 9:31 PM,7 min,66°,10° above SW,10° above NE|2021-05-15 06:09:00.0,Fri May 14, 11:09 PM,5 min,18°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|2021-05-15 09:27:00.0,Sat May 15, 2:27 AM,1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above NNE|2021-05-15 11:02:00.0,Sat May 15, 4:02 AM,6 min,36°,10° above NW,10° above ESE|2021-05-16 03:44:00.0,Sat May 15, 8:44 PM,6 min,35°,10° above SSW,10° above ENE|2021-05-16 05:21:00.0,Sat May 15, 10:21 PM,6 min,25°,10° above W,10° above NNE|2021-05-16 10:15:00.0,Sun May 16, 3:15 AM,6 min,24°,10° above NNW,10° above E|2021-05-16 11:51:00.0,Sun May 16, 4:51 AM,6 min,37°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|2021-05-17 04:33:00.0,Sun May 16, 9:33 PM,6 min,38°,10° above WSW,10° above NE|2021-05-17 06:13:00.0,Sun May 16, 11:13 PM,1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2021-05-17 11:07:00.0,Mon May 17, 4:07 AM,3 min,71°,70° above WSW,10° above SE|2021-05-18 03:45:00.0,Mon May 17, 8:45 PM,7 min,66°,10° above WSW,10° above NE|2021-05-18 05:24:00.0,Mon May 17, 10:24 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NW,10° above N|2021-05-19 04:36:00.0,Tue May 18, 9:36 PM,5 min,17°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|2021-05-20 03:48:00.0,Wed May 19, 8:48 PM,6 min,25°,10° above W,10° above NNE|2021-05-21 04:40:00.0,Thu May 20, 9:40 PM,1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2021-05-22 03:51:00.0,Fri May 21, 8:51 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NW,10° above N|2021-05-22 07:07:00.0,Sat May 22, 12:07 AM,1 min,12°,10° above N,12° above N|2021-05-23 06:21:00.0,Sat May 22, 11:21 PM,1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above NNE|2021-05-24 07:09:00.0,Mon May 24, 12:09 AM,1 min,16°,10° above NNW,16° above NNW|2021-05-25 06:22:00.0,Mon May 24, 11:22 PM,2 min,17°,10° above NNW,17° above NNE|2021-05-26 05:35:00.0,Tue May 25, 10:35 PM,3 min,13°,10° above N,10° above NE|2021-05-26 07:10:00.0,Wed May 26, 12:10 AM,< 1 min,14°,10° above NW,14° above NW|2021-05-27 04:48:00.0,Wed May 26, 9:48 PM,1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above NNE|2021-05-27 06:23:00.0,Wed May 26, 11:23 PM,2 min,28°,10° above NW,28° above N|2021-05-28 05:36:00.0,Thu May 27, 10:36 PM,3 min,25°,10° above NNW,24° above NE|2021-05-29 04:49:00.0,Fri May 28, 9:49 PM,5 min,17°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|2021-05-29 06:25:00.0,Fri May 28, 11:25 PM,1 min,24°,10° above NW,24° above WNW|

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 chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton