Spot The Station

Sighting Location

Location: Rockford, Illinois, United States

RSS Bookmark Share .. Embed Print

Embed the sighting opportunities widget on your website

Display the upcoming dates and times for Rockford, Illinois, United States.
Visit the widget page to learn more and for additional options.

Select the color theme for your widget and hit the “Show Code” button:

Show Code

Sign Up Location: Rockford, Illinois, United States

Do you want email or mobile text alerts?

Who is your mobile carrier?

Alert Times

I verify this email account / phone number is mine and I have the right to register for this service.

I understand the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is not responsible for any fees that may apply to site users by their wireless carrier or internet provider.

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Oct 15, 2021 through Saturday Oct 30, 2021

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Wed Oct 20, 6:10 AM	4 min	15°	10° above S	10° above E
Fri Oct 22, 6:11 AM	6 min	43°	10° above SSW	10° above ENE
Sat Oct 23, 5:26 AM	4 min	26°	23° above SSE	10° above ENE
Sun Oct 24, 4:41 AM	1 min	13°	13° above ESE	10° above E
Sun Oct 24, 6:14 AM	5 min	66°	21° above WSW	10° above NE
Mon Oct 25, 5:29 AM	3 min	71°	71° above E	10° above ENE
Tue Oct 26, 4:45 AM	1 min	15°	15° above ENE	10° above ENE
Tue Oct 26, 6:18 AM	4 min	30°	23° above WNW	10° above NE
Wed Oct 27, 5:33 AM	2 min	32°	32° above NNE	10° above NE
Thu Oct 28, 4:47 AM	< 1 min	12°	12° above NE	10° above NE
Thu Oct 28, 6:20 AM	4 min	20°	16° above NW	10° above NE
Fri Oct 29, 5:35 AM	2 min	20°	20° above N	10° above NE
Sat Oct 30, 4:50 AM	< 1 min	10°	10° above NE	10° above NE
Sat Oct 30, 6:23 AM	4 min	17°	13° above NNW	10° above NE

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

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.