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Location: Washington, DC, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Feb 19, 6:04 AM 2 min 18° 10° above S 18° above SE  
Thu Feb 20, 5:19 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above SE  
Fri Feb 21, 6:05 AM 5 min 58° 10° above SW 28° above ENE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:18 AM 3 min 31° 16° above S 26° above E  
Sun Feb 23, 4:33 AM 1 min 17° 17° above ESE 14° above E  
Sun Feb 23, 6:06 AM 6 min 44° 10° above WSW 11° above NE  
Mon Feb 24, 5:21 AM 4 min 77° 56° above WSW 12° above NE  
Tue Feb 25, 4:36 AM 1 min 28° 28° above ENE 16° above ENE  
Tue Feb 25, 6:09 AM 5 min 20° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Wed Feb 26, 5:24 AM 3 min 29° 29° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Thu Feb 27, 4:38 AM 1 min 19° 19° above NNE 10° above NE  
Thu Feb 27, 6:12 AM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Fri Feb 28, 5:25 AM 2 min 15° 15° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sat Feb 29, 4:39 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Sun Mar 1, 5:27 AM 2 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Mon Mar 2, 4:41 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above N 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Feb 18, 6:25 AM 1 min 15° 10° above SSE 15° above SE  
Wed Feb 19, 5:53 AM 1 min 12° 10° above SSE 12° above SE  
Fri Feb 21, 6:23 AM 7 min 74° 10° above SW 10° above NE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:50 AM 5 min 59° 10° above SW 24° above ENE  
Sun Feb 23, 5:20 AM 4 min 47° 22° above SSW 25° above ENE  
Mon Feb 24, 4:49 AM 2 min 38° 38° above SE 23° above E  
Mon Feb 24, 6:24 AM 3 min 28° 11° above W 28° above NW  
Tue Feb 25, 4:19 AM < 1 min 20° 20° above E 17° above E  
Tue Feb 25, 5:53 AM 5 min 33° 18° above W 10° above NE  
Wed Feb 26, 5:22 AM 4 min 38° 36° above NW 11° above NE  
Thu Feb 27, 4:52 AM 2 min 36° 36° above N 11° above NE  
Fri Feb 28, 4:21 AM 1 min 17° 17° above NE 10° above NE  
Fri Feb 28, 5:55 AM 4 min 15° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Feb 29, 5:24 AM 3 min 16° 15° above NW 10° above NNE  
2020-02-19 11:04:00.0,Wed Feb 19, 6:04 AM,2 min,18°,10° above S,18° above SE|2020-02-20 10:19:00.0,Thu Feb 20, 5:19 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SE,10° above SE|2020-02-21 11:05:00.0,Fri Feb 21, 6:05 AM,5 min,58°,10° above SW,28° above ENE|2020-02-22 10:18:00.0,Sat Feb 22, 5:18 AM,3 min,31°,16° above S,26° above E|2020-02-23 09:33:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 4:33 AM,1 min,17°,17° above ESE,14° above E|2020-02-23 11:06:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 6:06 AM,6 min,44°,10° above WSW,11° above NE|2020-02-24 10:21:00.0,Mon Feb 24, 5:21 AM,4 min,77°,56° above WSW,12° above NE|2020-02-25 09:36:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 4:36 AM,1 min,28°,28° above ENE,16° above ENE|2020-02-25 11:09:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 6:09 AM,5 min,20°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|2020-02-26 10:24:00.0,Wed Feb 26, 5:24 AM,3 min,29°,29° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-02-27 09:38:00.0,Thu Feb 27, 4:38 AM,1 min,19°,19° above NNE,10° above NE|2020-02-27 11:12:00.0,Thu Feb 27, 6:12 AM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above N|2020-02-28 10:25:00.0,Fri Feb 28, 5:25 AM,2 min,15°,15° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-02-29 09:39:00.0,Sat Feb 29, 4:39 AM,< 1 min,14°,14° above NNE,10° above NNE|2020-03-01 10:27:00.0,Sun Mar 1, 5:27 AM,2 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2020-03-02 09:41:00.0,Mon Mar 2, 4:41 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° 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 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