Spot The Station

Sighting Location

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Location: Columbia, Maryland, United States

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The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 27, 2023 through Tuesday Dec 12, 2023

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Mon Nov 27, 6:32 PM	1 min	11°	10° above NNW	11° above N
Tue Nov 28, 5:44 PM	2 min	11°	10° above N	10° above NNE
Wed Nov 29, 6:31 PM	1 min	15°	10° above NNW	15° above NNW
Thu Nov 30, 5:43 PM	3 min	15°	10° above NNW	14° above NE
Fri Dec 1, 6:31 PM	2 min	28°	10° above NW	28° above NNW
Sat Dec 2, 5:43 PM	4 min	25°	10° above NNW	19° above ENE
Sat Dec 2, 7:19 PM	1 min	15°	10° above WNW	15° above WNW
Sun Dec 3, 6:31 PM	4 min	74°	10° above NW	74° above S
Mon Dec 4, 5:42 PM	6 min	60°	10° above NW	12° above ESE
Mon Dec 4, 7:20 PM	1 min	14°	10° above W	14° above WSW
Tue Dec 5, 6:31 PM	6 min	24°	10° above WNW	10° above S
Wed Dec 6, 5:42 PM	6 min	44°	10° above WNW	10° above SSE
Fri Dec 8, 5:43 PM	4 min	15°	10° above W	10° above SSW

{ts '2023-11-27 23:32:00'},Mon Nov 27, 6:32 PM,1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above N|{ts '2023-11-28 22:44:00'},Tue Nov 28, 5:44 PM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-11-29 23:31:00'},Wed Nov 29, 6:31 PM,1 min,15°,10° above NNW,15° above NNW|{ts '2023-11-30 22:43:00'},Thu Nov 30, 5:43 PM,3 min,15°,10° above NNW,14° above NE|{ts '2023-12-01 23:31:00'},Fri Dec 1, 6:31 PM,2 min,28°,10° above NW,28° above NNW|{ts '2023-12-02 22:43:00'},Sat Dec 2, 5:43 PM,4 min,25°,10° above NNW,19° above ENE|{ts '2023-12-03 00:19:00'},Sat Dec 2, 7:19 PM,1 min,15°,10° above WNW,15° above WNW|{ts '2023-12-03 23:31:00'},Sun Dec 3, 6:31 PM,4 min,74°,10° above NW,74° above S|{ts '2023-12-04 22:42:00'},Mon Dec 4, 5:42 PM,6 min,60°,10° above NW,12° above ESE|{ts '2023-12-05 00:20:00'},Mon Dec 4, 7:20 PM,1 min,14°,10° above W,14° above WSW|{ts '2023-12-05 23:31:00'},Tue Dec 5, 6:31 PM,6 min,24°,10° above WNW,10° above S|{ts '2023-12-06 22:42:00'},Wed Dec 6, 5:42 PM,6 min,44°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2023-12-08 22:43:00'},Fri Dec 8, 5:43 PM,4 min,15°,10° above W,10° above SSW|

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.