Spot The Station

Sighting Location

Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

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The following ISS sightings are possible from Thursday Nov 19, 2020 through Friday Dec 4, 2020

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Wed Nov 18, 6:21 PM	3 min	47°	11° above SSW	47° above SE
Thu Nov 19, 5:34 PM	5 min	25°	11° above S	14° above E
Thu Nov 19, 7:12 PM	< 1 min	21°	18° above W	21° above WNW
Fri Nov 20, 6:25 PM	2 min	49°	31° above W	39° above N
Sat Nov 21, 5:37 PM	4 min	88°	35° above SW	14° above NE
Sat Nov 21, 7:14 PM	< 1 min	12°	10° above WNW	12° above NW
Sun Nov 22, 6:26 PM	3 min	20°	14° above WNW	18° above N
Mon Nov 23, 5:39 PM	4 min	30°	21° above WNW	10° above NNE
Tue Nov 24, 6:29 PM	1 min	11°	10° above NW	11° above N
Wed Nov 25, 5:41 PM	4 min	14°	10° above WNW	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

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.