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Sighting Location

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Location: Elkton, Maryland, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 14, 2018 through Sunday Sep 30, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Sep 15, 5:11 AM 3 min 33° 15° above NNW 29° above ENE  
Sun Sep 16, 4:22 AM < 1 min 21° 21° above NE 19° above NE  
Sun Sep 16, 5:55 AM 6 min 51° 10° above WNW 12° above SSE  
Mon Sep 17, 5:06 AM 3 min 78° 74° above N 10° above SE  
Tue Sep 18, 4:17 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above ESE 11° above ESE  
Tue Sep 18, 5:50 AM 3 min 19° 18° above WSW 10° above S  
Wed Sep 19, 5:01 AM < 1 min 13° 13° above SSE 10° above SSE  
Thu Sep 20, 8:43 PM 2 min 28° 10° above SSW 28° above SSW  
Fri Sep 21, 7:51 PM 4 min 24° 11° above S 19° above E  
Fri Sep 21, 9:28 PM < 1 min 14° 12° above W 14° above W  
Sat Sep 22, 8:35 PM 4 min 63° 10° above WSW 54° above N  
Sun Sep 23, 7:43 PM 6 min 65° 10° above SW 10° above ENE  
Sun Sep 23, 9:22 PM < 1 min 18° 17° above NW 18° above NW  
Mon Sep 24, 8:30 PM 2 min 29° 26° above NW 18° above NNE  
Tue Sep 25, 7:38 PM 4 min 49° 37° above W 10° above NE  
Tue Sep 25, 9:14 PM 1 min 13° 11° above NW 13° above NNW  
Wed Sep 26, 8:23 PM 3 min 17° 15° above NW 11° above NNE  
Thu Sep 27, 7:31 PM 3 min 25° 23° above NW 10° above NNE  
Thu Sep 27, 9:08 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Fri Sep 28, 8:15 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
2018-09-15 09:11:00.0,Sat Sep 15, 5:11 AM,3 min,33°,15° above NNW,29° above ENE|2018-09-16 08:22:00.0,Sun Sep 16, 4:22 AM,< 1 min,21°,21° above NE,19° above NE|2018-09-16 09:55:00.0,Sun Sep 16, 5:55 AM,6 min,51°,10° above WNW,12° above SSE|2018-09-17 09:06:00.0,Mon Sep 17, 5:06 AM,3 min,78°,74° above N,10° above SE|2018-09-18 08:17:00.0,Tue Sep 18, 4:17 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above ESE,11° above ESE|2018-09-18 09:50:00.0,Tue Sep 18, 5:50 AM,3 min,19°,18° above WSW,10° above S|2018-09-19 09:01:00.0,Wed Sep 19, 5:01 AM,< 1 min,13°,13° above SSE,10° above SSE|2018-09-21 00:43:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 8:43 PM,2 min,28°,10° above SSW,28° above SSW|2018-09-21 23:51:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 7:51 PM,4 min,24°,11° above S,19° above E|2018-09-22 01:28:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 9:28 PM,< 1 min,14°,12° above W,14° above W|2018-09-23 00:35:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 8:35 PM,4 min,63°,10° above WSW,54° above N|2018-09-23 23:43:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 7:43 PM,6 min,65°,10° above SW,10° above ENE|2018-09-24 01:22:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 9:22 PM,< 1 min,18°,17° above NW,18° above NW|2018-09-25 00:30:00.0,Mon Sep 24, 8:30 PM,2 min,29°,26° above NW,18° above NNE|2018-09-25 23:38:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 7:38 PM,4 min,49°,37° above W,10° above NE|2018-09-26 01:14:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 9:14 PM,1 min,13°,11° above NW,13° above NNW|2018-09-27 00:23:00.0,Wed Sep 26, 8:23 PM,3 min,17°,15° above NW,11° above NNE|2018-09-27 23:31:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 7:31 PM,3 min,25°,23° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-09-28 01:08:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 9:08 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|2018-09-29 00:15:00.0,Fri Sep 28, 8:15 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|

Last Updated:

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