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Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Jul 26, 2021 through Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Jul 26, 10:42 PM 3 min 21° 10° above NNW 21° above NNE  
Tue Jul 27, 9:55 PM 4 min 15° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Tue Jul 27, 11:31 PM 1 min 18° 10° above NW 18° above NW  
Wed Jul 28, 9:08 PM 3 min 12° 10° above N 10° above NE  
Wed Jul 28, 10:44 PM 3 min 40° 10° above NW 40° above N  
Thu Jul 29, 9:56 PM 4 min 31° 10° above NNW 26° above ENE  
Fri Jul 30, 9:09 PM 5 min 21° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Fri Jul 30, 10:46 PM 2 min 30° 10° above WNW 30° above W  
Sat Jul 31, 9:58 PM 4 min 86° 10° above NW 62° above SE  
Sun Aug 1, 9:11 PM 6 min 52° 10° above NW 18° above ESE  
Sun Aug 1, 10:49 PM 1 min 12° 10° above W 12° above WSW  
Mon Aug 2, 10:01 PM 3 min 25° 10° above WNW 24° above SSW  
Tue Aug 3, 9:13 PM 6 min 45° 10° above WNW 15° above SSE  
Thu Aug 5, 9:16 PM 4 min 14° 10° above W 10° above SSW  

The following Nauka sightings are possible from Monday Jul 26, 2021 through Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Jul 27, 10:10 PM 3 min 15° 10° above NNW 14° above NE  
Wed Jul 28, 9:12 PM 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Wed Jul 28, 10:47 PM 2 min 29° 10° above NW 29° above NNW  
2021-07-27 05:42:00.0,Mon Jul 26, 10:42 PM,3 min,21°,10° above NNW,21° above NNE|2021-07-28 04:55:00.0,Tue Jul 27, 9:55 PM,4 min,15°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|2021-07-28 06:31:00.0,Tue Jul 27, 11:31 PM,1 min,18°,10° above NW,18° above NW|2021-07-29 04:08:00.0,Wed Jul 28, 9:08 PM,3 min,12°,10° above N,10° above NE|2021-07-29 05:44:00.0,Wed Jul 28, 10:44 PM,3 min,40°,10° above NW,40° above N|2021-07-30 04:56:00.0,Thu Jul 29, 9:56 PM,4 min,31°,10° above NNW,26° above ENE|2021-07-31 04:09:00.0,Fri Jul 30, 9:09 PM,5 min,21°,10° above NNW,10° above E|2021-07-31 05:46:00.0,Fri Jul 30, 10:46 PM,2 min,30°,10° above WNW,30° above W|2021-08-01 04:58:00.0,Sat Jul 31, 9:58 PM,4 min,86°,10° above NW,62° above SE|2021-08-02 04:11:00.0,Sun Aug 1, 9:11 PM,6 min,52°,10° above NW,18° above ESE|2021-08-02 05:49:00.0,Sun Aug 1, 10:49 PM,1 min,12°,10° above W,12° above WSW|2021-08-03 05:01:00.0,Mon Aug 2, 10:01 PM,3 min,25°,10° above WNW,24° above SSW|2021-08-04 04:13:00.0,Tue Aug 3, 9:13 PM,6 min,45°,10° above WNW,15° above SSE|2021-08-06 04:16:00.0,Thu Aug 5, 9:16 PM,4 min,14°,10° above W,10° above SSW|

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