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Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Feb 19, 6:10 AM 3 min 26° 11° above S 26° above SE  
Thu Feb 20, 5:23 AM 2 min 15° 10° above SSE 15° above ESE  
Fri Feb 21, 6:11 AM 6 min 86° 10° above SW 12° above NE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:25 AM 3 min 49° 23° above SSW 25° above ENE  
Sun Feb 23, 4:39 AM 1 min 25° 25° above ESE 19° above E  
Sun Feb 23, 6:13 AM 6 min 29° 11° above W 10° above NNE  
Mon Feb 24, 5:27 AM 4 min 48° 42° above WNW 11° above NE  
Tue Feb 25, 4:42 AM 1 min 26° 26° above NE 12° above NE  
Tue Feb 25, 6:16 AM 4 min 14° 10° above WNW 10° above N  
Wed Feb 26, 5:29 AM 3 min 20° 20° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Thu Feb 27, 4:44 AM 1 min 17° 17° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Fri Feb 28, 5:31 AM 2 min 11° 11° above NNW 10° above N  
Sat Feb 29, 4:45 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above N 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Feb 18, 6:32 AM 1 min 16° 10° above S 16° above S  
Wed Feb 19, 5:59 AM 2 min 18° 10° above S 18° above SE  
Thu Feb 20, 5:27 AM 2 min 15° 10° above SSE 15° above SE  
Fri Feb 21, 4:55 AM 2 min 12° 10° above SSE 11° above ESE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:58 AM 7 min 84° 10° above SW 11° above NE  
Sun Feb 23, 5:28 AM 5 min 77° 27° above SW 10° above NE  
Mon Feb 24, 4:57 AM 3 min 61° 61° above SE 14° above ENE  
Tue Feb 25, 4:27 AM 1 min 26° 26° above ENE 16° above ENE  
Tue Feb 25, 6:01 AM 5 min 22° 14° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Wed Feb 26, 3:56 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Wed Feb 26, 5:30 AM 4 min 26° 24° above NW 10° above NNE  
Thu Feb 27, 5:00 AM 2 min 25° 25° above N 11° above NNE  
Fri Feb 28, 4:29 AM 1 min 17° 17° above NNE 10° above NE  
Fri Feb 28, 6:04 AM 2 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Sat Feb 29, 5:32 AM 2 min 11° 10° above NW 10° above N  
2020-02-19 14:10:00.0,Wed Feb 19, 6:10 AM,3 min,26°,11° above S,26° above SE|2020-02-20 13:23:00.0,Thu Feb 20, 5:23 AM,2 min,15°,10° above SSE,15° above ESE|2020-02-21 14:11:00.0,Fri Feb 21, 6:11 AM,6 min,86°,10° above SW,12° above NE|2020-02-22 13:25:00.0,Sat Feb 22, 5:25 AM,3 min,49°,23° above SSW,25° above ENE|2020-02-23 12:39:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 4:39 AM,1 min,25°,25° above ESE,19° above E|2020-02-23 14:13:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 6:13 AM,6 min,29°,11° above W,10° above NNE|2020-02-24 13:27:00.0,Mon Feb 24, 5:27 AM,4 min,48°,42° above WNW,11° above NE|2020-02-25 12:42:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 4:42 AM,1 min,26°,26° above NE,12° above NE|2020-02-25 14:16:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 6:16 AM,4 min,14°,10° above WNW,10° above N|2020-02-26 13:29:00.0,Wed Feb 26, 5:29 AM,3 min,20°,20° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-02-27 12:44:00.0,Thu Feb 27, 4:44 AM,1 min,17°,17° above NNE,10° above NNE|2020-02-28 13:31:00.0,Fri Feb 28, 5:31 AM,2 min,11°,11° above NNW,10° above N|2020-02-29 12:45:00.0,Sat Feb 29, 4:45 AM,< 1 min,12°,12° 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 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