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Location: Washington, DC, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 13, 2019 through Friday Oct 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Sep 17, 8:47 PM 1 min 22° 10° above SSW 22° above SSW  
Wed Sep 18, 7:59 PM 4 min 22° 11° above S 18° above E  
Wed Sep 18, 9:36 PM < 1 min 17° 12° above W 17° above W  
Thu Sep 19, 8:47 PM 4 min 62° 10° above WSW 54° above N  
Fri Sep 20, 7:58 PM 6 min 71° 10° above SW 10° above NE  
Fri Sep 20, 9:38 PM < 1 min 16° 16° above NW 16° above NW  
Sat Sep 21, 8:49 PM 2 min 25° 22° above WNW 19° above N  
Sun Sep 22, 8:01 PM 4 min 39° 32° above WNW 11° above NE  
Sun Sep 22, 9:38 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
Mon Sep 23, 8:49 PM 3 min 14° 12° above NW 11° above N  
Tue Sep 24, 8:01 PM 3 min 19° 18° above NW 11° above NNE  
Wed Sep 25, 8:50 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Thu Sep 26, 8:00 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Sun Sep 29, 8:50 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 13, 2019 through Friday Oct 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Sep 14, 4:34 AM 2 min 23° 21° above N 19° above NE  
Sat Sep 14, 6:10 AM 7 min 60° 10° above WNW 11° above SE  
Sun Sep 15, 4:06 AM < 1 min 18° 18° above NE 15° above ENE  
Sun Sep 15, 5:40 AM 6 min 71° 15° above WNW 11° above SE  
Mon Sep 16, 5:13 AM 4 min 83° 47° above WNW 12° above SE  
Tue Sep 17, 4:45 AM 2 min 29° 29° above SE 11° above SE  
Tue Sep 17, 6:20 AM 2 min 10° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Wed Sep 18, 5:52 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above SSW 10° above SSW  
Wed Sep 18, 9:05 PM 2 min 26° 10° above SW 26° above SSW  
Thu Sep 19, 8:35 PM 4 min 55° 10° above SW 53° above ESE  
Fri Sep 20, 8:05 PM 6 min 46° 10° above SSW 19° above ENE  
Fri Sep 20, 9:44 PM 1 min 19° 11° above W 19° above WNW  
Sat Sep 21, 7:35 PM 6 min 39° 10° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Sat Sep 21, 9:15 PM 2 min 28° 19° above WNW 27° above NNW  
Sun Sep 22, 8:46 PM 3 min 31° 26° above WNW 18° above NNE  
Mon Sep 23, 8:16 PM 4 min 35° 31° above WNW 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 23, 9:54 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NW  
Tue Sep 24, 7:46 PM 4 min 39° 34° above WNW 11° above NE  
Tue Sep 24, 9:24 PM 2 min 13° 10° above NW 13° above NNW  
Wed Sep 25, 7:20 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above NE 10° above NE  
Wed Sep 25, 8:55 PM 3 min 14° 12° above NW 12° above N  
Thu Sep 26, 8:25 PM 3 min 14° 12° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Sep 27, 7:54 PM 4 min 15° 12° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 28, 7:25 PM 3 min 16° 14° above NW 11° above NNE  
Sat Sep 28, 9:04 PM 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above N  
Sun Sep 29, 8:34 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Sep 30, 8:04 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Oct 1, 7:34 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Oct 1, 9:12 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above NNW  
Wed Oct 2, 8:42 PM 2 min 15° 10° above NNW 15° above N  
Thu Oct 3, 8:12 PM 3 min 14° 10° above NNW 14° above NNE  
2019-09-18 00:47:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 8:47 PM,1 min,22°,10° above SSW,22° above SSW|2019-09-18 23:59:00.0,Wed Sep 18, 7:59 PM,4 min,22°,11° above S,18° above E|2019-09-19 01:36:00.0,Wed Sep 18, 9:36 PM,< 1 min,17°,12° above W,17° above W|2019-09-20 00:47:00.0,Thu Sep 19, 8:47 PM,4 min,62°,10° above WSW,54° above N|2019-09-20 23:58:00.0,Fri Sep 20, 7:58 PM,6 min,71°,10° above SW,10° above NE|2019-09-21 01:38:00.0,Fri Sep 20, 9:38 PM,< 1 min,16°,16° above NW,16° above NW|2019-09-22 00:49:00.0,Sat Sep 21, 8:49 PM,2 min,25°,22° above WNW,19° above N|2019-09-23 00:01:00.0,Sun Sep 22, 8:01 PM,4 min,39°,32° above WNW,11° above NE|2019-09-23 01:38:00.0,Sun Sep 22, 9:38 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NW,10° above NNW|2019-09-24 00:49:00.0,Mon Sep 23, 8:49 PM,3 min,14°,12° above NW,11° above N|2019-09-25 00:01:00.0,Tue Sep 24, 8:01 PM,3 min,19°,18° above NW,11° above NNE|2019-09-26 00:50:00.0,Wed Sep 25, 8:50 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2019-09-27 00:00:00.0,Thu Sep 26, 8:00 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above N|2019-09-30 00:50:00.0,Sun Sep 29, 8:50 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° 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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton