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Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Mar 25, 2024 through Wednesday Apr 10, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Mar 25, 8:52 PM 3 min 28° 10° above NW 28° above NNE  
Tue Mar 26, 8:04 PM 5 min 22° 10° above NW 13° above ENE  
Tue Mar 26, 9:40 PM 1 min 24° 10° above WNW 24° above WNW  
Wed Mar 27, 8:52 PM 4 min 60° 10° above NW 57° above NE  
Thu Mar 28, 8:04 PM 5 min 38° 10° above NW 17° above E  
Thu Mar 28, 9:41 PM 1 min 20° 10° above WNW 20° above W  
Fri Mar 29, 8:53 PM 4 min 50° 10° above WNW 45° above S  
Sat Mar 30, 8:04 PM 6 min 87° 10° above NW 14° above SE  
Sun Mar 31, 8:54 PM 4 min 18° 10° above W 14° above SSW  
Mon Apr 1, 8:05 PM 6 min 30° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Wed Apr 3, 8:06 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
{ts '2024-03-26 01:52:00'},Mon Mar 25, 8:52 PM,3 min,28°,10° above NW,28° above NNE|{ts '2024-03-27 01:04:00'},Tue Mar 26, 8:04 PM,5 min,22°,10° above NW,13° above ENE|{ts '2024-03-27 02:40:00'},Tue Mar 26, 9:40 PM,1 min,24°,10° above WNW,24° above WNW|{ts '2024-03-28 01:52:00'},Wed Mar 27, 8:52 PM,4 min,60°,10° above NW,57° above NE|{ts '2024-03-29 01:04:00'},Thu Mar 28, 8:04 PM,5 min,38°,10° above NW,17° above E|{ts '2024-03-29 02:41:00'},Thu Mar 28, 9:41 PM,1 min,20°,10° above WNW,20° above W|{ts '2024-03-30 01:53:00'},Fri Mar 29, 8:53 PM,4 min,50°,10° above WNW,45° above S|{ts '2024-03-31 01:04:00'},Sat Mar 30, 8:04 PM,6 min,87°,10° above NW,14° above SE|{ts '2024-04-01 01:54:00'},Sun Mar 31, 8:54 PM,4 min,18°,10° above W,14° above SSW|{ts '2024-04-02 01:05:00'},Mon Apr 1, 8:05 PM,6 min,30°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-04-04 01:06:00'},Wed Apr 3, 8:06 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|

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.