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Location: Tampa, Florida, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Oct 14, 2019 through Monday Nov 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Oct 20, 6:58 AM 2 min 16° 10° above S 16° above SE  
Tue Oct 22, 6:56 AM 6 min 72° 11° above SW 10° above NE  
Wed Oct 23, 6:08 AM 4 min 32° 12° above S 26° above E  
Thu Oct 24, 5:23 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above ESE 13° above ESE  
Thu Oct 24, 6:56 AM 5 min 28° 11° above WSW 11° above NNE  
Fri Oct 25, 6:11 AM 3 min 51° 51° above N 11° above NNE  
Sat Oct 26, 5:25 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above NE 11° above NE  
Sat Oct 26, 6:59 AM 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
Sun Oct 27, 6:12 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above N 10° above N  
2019-10-20 10:58:00.0,Sun Oct 20, 6:58 AM,2 min,16°,10° above S,16° above SE|2019-10-22 10:56:00.0,Tue Oct 22, 6:56 AM,6 min,72°,11° above SW,10° above NE|2019-10-23 10:08:00.0,Wed Oct 23, 6:08 AM,4 min,32°,12° above S,26° above E|2019-10-24 09:23:00.0,Thu Oct 24, 5:23 AM,< 1 min,14°,14° above ESE,13° above ESE|2019-10-24 10:56:00.0,Thu Oct 24, 6:56 AM,5 min,28°,11° above WSW,11° above NNE|2019-10-25 10:11:00.0,Fri Oct 25, 6:11 AM,3 min,51°,51° above N,11° above NNE|2019-10-26 09:25:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 5:25 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above NE,11° above NE|2019-10-26 10:59:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 6:59 AM,1 min,10°,10° above NW,10° above NNW|2019-10-27 10:12:00.0,Sun Oct 27, 6:12 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

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