Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Washington, DC, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Mar 15, 2024 through Saturday Mar 30, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Mar 15, 8:06 PM 7 min 69° 10° above WSW 10° above NE  
Fri Mar 15, 9:45 PM 1 min 14° 10° above WNW 14° above NW  
Sat Mar 16, 8:57 PM 4 min 20° 10° above WNW 14° above NNE  
Sun Mar 17, 8:09 PM 6 min 27° 10° above W 10° above NNE  
Sun Mar 17, 9:48 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Mon Mar 18, 9:00 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Tue Mar 19, 8:12 PM 4 min 15° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Thu Mar 21, 8:15 PM 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Fri Mar 22, 9:05 PM 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat Mar 23, 9:53 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above NNW  
Sun Mar 24, 9:06 PM 2 min 14° 10° above NNW 14° above NNE  
Mon Mar 25, 8:18 PM 2 min 11° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Mon Mar 25, 9:54 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NNW  
Tue Mar 26, 9:06 PM 3 min 23° 10° above NNW 23° above NNE  
Wed Mar 27, 8:19 PM 4 min 17° 10° above NNW 11° above ENE  
Wed Mar 27, 9:55 PM 1 min 21° 10° above NW 21° above NW  
Thu Mar 28, 9:07 PM 3 min 54° 10° above NW 54° above NNE  
Fri Mar 29, 8:19 PM 5 min 33° 10° above NW 16° above E  
Fri Mar 29, 9:56 PM 1 min 18° 10° above WNW 18° above W  
{ts '2024-03-16 00:06:00'},Fri Mar 15, 8:06 PM,7 min,69°,10° above WSW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-03-16 01:45:00'},Fri Mar 15, 9:45 PM,1 min,14°,10° above WNW,14° above NW|{ts '2024-03-17 00:57:00'},Sat Mar 16, 8:57 PM,4 min,20°,10° above WNW,14° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-18 00:09:00'},Sun Mar 17, 8:09 PM,6 min,27°,10° above W,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-18 01:48:00'},Sun Mar 17, 9:48 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|{ts '2024-03-19 01:00:00'},Mon Mar 18, 9:00 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-20 00:12:00'},Tue Mar 19, 8:12 PM,4 min,15°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-22 00:15:00'},Thu Mar 21, 8:15 PM,1 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above N|{ts '2024-03-23 01:05:00'},Fri Mar 22, 9:05 PM,1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-24 01:53:00'},Sat Mar 23, 9:53 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above NNW|{ts '2024-03-25 01:06:00'},Sun Mar 24, 9:06 PM,2 min,14°,10° above NNW,14° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-26 00:18:00'},Mon Mar 25, 8:18 PM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-26 01:54:00'},Mon Mar 25, 9:54 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above NNW|{ts '2024-03-27 01:06:00'},Tue Mar 26, 9:06 PM,3 min,23°,10° above NNW,23° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-28 00:19:00'},Wed Mar 27, 8:19 PM,4 min,17°,10° above NNW,11° above ENE|{ts '2024-03-28 01:55:00'},Wed Mar 27, 9:55 PM,1 min,21°,10° above NW,21° above NW|{ts '2024-03-29 01:07:00'},Thu Mar 28, 9:07 PM,3 min,54°,10° above NW,54° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-30 00:19:00'},Fri Mar 29, 8:19 PM,5 min,33°,10° above NW,16° above E|{ts '2024-03-30 01:56:00'},Fri Mar 29, 9:56 PM,1 min,18°,10° above WNW,18° above W|

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.