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Location: Santa Clara, California, 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, 8:05 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above SSE 12° above SSE  
Thu Sep 20, 8:48 PM 2 min 46° 10° above SW 46° above SW  
Fri Sep 21, 7:56 PM 5 min 35° 11° above SSW 19° above ENE  
Fri Sep 21, 9:34 PM < 1 min 15° 15° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Sat Sep 22, 8:42 PM 3 min 39° 20° above W 31° above N  
Sun Sep 23, 7:49 PM 6 min 78° 10° above SW 11° above NE  
Sun Sep 23, 9:28 PM < 1 min 13° 12° above NW 13° above NW  
Mon Sep 24, 8:36 PM 3 min 19° 18° above NW 13° above NNE  
Tue Sep 25, 7:44 PM 3 min 31° 30° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 26, 8:29 PM 2 min 12° 11° above NW 10° above N  
Thu Sep 27, 7:37 PM 3 min 17° 15° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 29, 7:30 PM 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
2018-09-20 03:05:00.0,Wed Sep 19, 8:05 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above SSE,12° above SSE|2018-09-21 03:48:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 8:48 PM,2 min,46°,10° above SW,46° above SW|2018-09-22 02:56:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 7:56 PM,5 min,35°,11° above SSW,19° above ENE|2018-09-22 04:34:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 9:34 PM,< 1 min,15°,15° above WNW,15° above WNW|2018-09-23 03:42:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 8:42 PM,3 min,39°,20° above W,31° above N|2018-09-24 02:49:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 7:49 PM,6 min,78°,10° above SW,11° above NE|2018-09-24 04:28:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 9:28 PM,< 1 min,13°,12° above NW,13° above NW|2018-09-25 03:36:00.0,Mon Sep 24, 8:36 PM,3 min,19°,18° above NW,13° above NNE|2018-09-26 02:44:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 7:44 PM,3 min,31°,30° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-09-27 03:29:00.0,Wed Sep 26, 8:29 PM,2 min,12°,11° above NW,10° above N|2018-09-28 02:37:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 7:37 PM,3 min,17°,15° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-09-30 02:30:00.0,Sat Sep 29, 7:30 PM,1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|

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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