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Location: Alexandria, Louisiana, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 13, 2019 through Friday Oct 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Sep 16, 8:32 PM 2 min 28° 10° above SSW 28° above S  
Tue Sep 17, 4:47 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above ESE 12° above ESE  
Tue Sep 17, 6:20 AM 1 min 10° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Tue Sep 17, 7:44 PM 4 min 19° 10° above S 11° above E  
Tue Sep 17, 9:20 PM 1 min 20° 11° above W 20° above WNW  
Wed Sep 18, 8:31 PM 5 min 51° 10° above WSW 22° above NNE  
Thu Sep 19, 7:43 PM 6 min 74° 11° above SW 10° above NE  
Thu Sep 19, 9:23 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
Fri Sep 20, 8:34 PM 2 min 17° 17° above NW 11° above N  
Sat Sep 21, 7:46 PM 3 min 29° 28° above NW 11° above NNE  
Mon Sep 23, 7:45 PM 2 min 11° 11° above NW 10° above NNW  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 13, 2019 through Friday Oct 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Sep 14, 5:10 AM 2 min 14° 11° above N 14° above NE  
Sun Sep 15, 4:40 AM 2 min 12° 10° above N 11° above NE  
Sun Sep 15, 6:17 AM 7 min 80° 10° above NW 11° above SE  
Mon Sep 16, 4:13 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NE 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 16, 5:47 AM 7 min 84° 10° above NW 11° above SE  
Tue Sep 17, 5:20 AM 4 min 70° 48° above NNW 11° above SE  
Tue Sep 17, 8:31 PM 2 min 34° 11° above SSW 34° above SSE  
Wed Sep 18, 4:52 AM 2 min 26° 26° above ESE 11° above ESE  
Wed Sep 18, 6:27 AM 1 min 10° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Wed Sep 18, 8:02 PM 5 min 32° 11° above SSW 21° above E  
Wed Sep 18, 9:40 PM < 1 min 13° 10° above W 13° above W  
Thu Sep 19, 5:59 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above SW 10° above SSW  
Thu Sep 19, 7:32 PM 6 min 27° 11° above S 10° above ENE  
Thu Sep 19, 9:12 PM 2 min 24° 20° above WNW 23° above NNW  
Fri Sep 20, 8:42 PM 3 min 27° 24° above WNW 14° above NNE  
Sat Sep 21, 8:12 PM 4 min 32° 29° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 22, 7:43 PM 4 min 38° 36° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Thu Sep 26, 7:21 PM 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
2019-09-17 01:32:00.0,Mon Sep 16, 8:32 PM,2 min,28°,10° above SSW,28° above S|2019-09-17 09:47:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 4:47 AM,< 1 min,14°,14° above ESE,12° above ESE|2019-09-17 11:20:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 6:20 AM,1 min,10°,10° above WSW,10° above SW|2019-09-18 00:44:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 7:44 PM,4 min,19°,10° above S,11° above E|2019-09-18 02:20:00.0,Tue Sep 17, 9:20 PM,1 min,20°,11° above W,20° above WNW|2019-09-19 01:31:00.0,Wed Sep 18, 8:31 PM,5 min,51°,10° above WSW,22° above NNE|2019-09-20 00:43:00.0,Thu Sep 19, 7:43 PM,6 min,74°,11° above SW,10° above NE|2019-09-20 02:23:00.0,Thu Sep 19, 9:23 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NW,10° above NNW|2019-09-21 01:34:00.0,Fri Sep 20, 8:34 PM,2 min,17°,17° above NW,11° above N|2019-09-22 00:46:00.0,Sat Sep 21, 7:46 PM,3 min,29°,28° above NW,11° above NNE|2019-09-24 00:45:00.0,Mon Sep 23, 7:45 PM,2 min,11°,11° above NW,10° above NNW|

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