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Sighting Location

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Location: Washington, DC, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 24, 2021 through Sunday Oct 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Sep 24, 7:38 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 26, 9:19 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above NNW  
Mon Sep 27, 8:32 PM 2 min 11° 10° above N 11° above NNE  
Tue Sep 28, 7:45 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above N  
Tue Sep 28, 9:20 PM 1 min 13° 10° above NNW 13° above NNW  
Wed Sep 29, 8:33 PM 2 min 17° 10° above NNW 17° above NNE  
Thu Sep 30, 7:46 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Thu Sep 30, 9:22 PM 1 min 16° 10° above NW 16° above NW  
Fri Oct 1, 8:35 PM 2 min 31° 10° above NW 31° above N  
Sat Oct 2, 7:48 PM 4 min 24° 10° above NNW 18° above ENE  
Sat Oct 2, 9:24 PM 1 min 15° 10° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Sun Oct 3, 8:37 PM 3 min 56° 10° above NW 56° above WNW  
Mon Oct 4, 7:49 PM 5 min 56° 10° above NW 28° above ESE  
Tue Oct 5, 8:39 PM 3 min 25° 10° above WNW 25° above SW  
Wed Oct 6, 7:51 PM 6 min 44° 10° above WNW 15° above SSE  
Fri Oct 8, 7:55 PM 4 min 14° 10° above W 10° above SSW  
2021-09-24 23:38:00.0,Fri Sep 24, 7:38 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2021-09-27 01:19:00.0,Sun Sep 26, 9:19 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above NNW|2021-09-28 00:32:00.0,Mon Sep 27, 8:32 PM,2 min,11°,10° above N,11° above NNE|2021-09-28 23:45:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 7:45 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above N|2021-09-29 01:20:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 9:20 PM,1 min,13°,10° above NNW,13° above NNW|2021-09-30 00:33:00.0,Wed Sep 29, 8:33 PM,2 min,17°,10° above NNW,17° above NNE|2021-09-30 23:46:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 7:46 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|2021-10-01 01:22:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 9:22 PM,1 min,16°,10° above NW,16° above NW|2021-10-02 00:35:00.0,Fri Oct 1, 8:35 PM,2 min,31°,10° above NW,31° above N|2021-10-02 23:48:00.0,Sat Oct 2, 7:48 PM,4 min,24°,10° above NNW,18° above ENE|2021-10-03 01:24:00.0,Sat Oct 2, 9:24 PM,1 min,15°,10° above WNW,15° above WNW|2021-10-04 00:37:00.0,Sun Oct 3, 8:37 PM,3 min,56°,10° above NW,56° above WNW|2021-10-04 23:49:00.0,Mon Oct 4, 7:49 PM,5 min,56°,10° above NW,28° above ESE|2021-10-06 00:39:00.0,Tue Oct 5, 8:39 PM,3 min,25°,10° above WNW,25° above SW|2021-10-06 23:51:00.0,Wed Oct 6, 7:51 PM,6 min,44°,10° above WNW,15° above SSE|2021-10-08 23:55:00.0,Fri Oct 8, 7:55 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