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Sighting Location

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Location: Elkton, Maryland, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Aug 19, 2019 through Wednesday Sep 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Aug 24, 5:50 AM 3 min 15° 11° above SSE 14° above ESE  
Mon Aug 26, 5:48 AM 4 min 44° 11° above SSW 38° above E  
Tue Aug 27, 5:01 AM 3 min 24° 15° above S 17° above E  
Wed Aug 28, 4:14 AM 1 min 13° 13° above ESE 10° above E  
Wed Aug 28, 5:47 AM 4 min 60° 12° above WSW 29° above NE  
Thu Aug 29, 5:01 AM 2 min 75° 45° above SW 30° above ENE  
Fri Aug 30, 4:14 AM 1 min 29° 29° above E 18° above ENE  
Fri Aug 30, 5:47 AM 5 min 26° 11° above W 13° above NNE  
Sat Aug 31, 5:00 AM 3 min 39° 36° above NW 17° above NNE  
Sun Sep 1, 4:13 AM < 1 min 30° 30° above NE 20° above NE  
Sun Sep 1, 5:47 AM 4 min 15° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Mon Sep 2, 4:59 AM 3 min 20° 18° above NW 10° above NNE  
Tue Sep 3, 4:13 AM 1 min 20° 20° above NNE 13° above NNE  
Tue Sep 3, 5:48 AM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
2019-08-24 09:50:00.0,Sat Aug 24, 5:50 AM,3 min,15°,11° above SSE,14° above ESE|2019-08-26 09:48:00.0,Mon Aug 26, 5:48 AM,4 min,44°,11° above SSW,38° above E|2019-08-27 09:01:00.0,Tue Aug 27, 5:01 AM,3 min,24°,15° above S,17° above E|2019-08-28 08:14:00.0,Wed Aug 28, 4:14 AM,1 min,13°,13° above ESE,10° above E|2019-08-28 09:47:00.0,Wed Aug 28, 5:47 AM,4 min,60°,12° above WSW,29° above NE|2019-08-29 09:01:00.0,Thu Aug 29, 5:01 AM,2 min,75°,45° above SW,30° above ENE|2019-08-30 08:14:00.0,Fri Aug 30, 4:14 AM,1 min,29°,29° above E,18° above ENE|2019-08-30 09:47:00.0,Fri Aug 30, 5:47 AM,5 min,26°,11° above W,13° above NNE|2019-08-31 09:00:00.0,Sat Aug 31, 5:00 AM,3 min,39°,36° above NW,17° above NNE|2019-09-01 08:13:00.0,Sun Sep 1, 4:13 AM,< 1 min,30°,30° above NE,20° above NE|2019-09-01 09:47:00.0,Sun Sep 1, 5:47 AM,4 min,15°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2019-09-02 08:59:00.0,Mon Sep 2, 4:59 AM,3 min,20°,18° above NW,10° above NNE|2019-09-03 08:13:00.0,Tue Sep 3, 4:13 AM,1 min,20°,20° above NNE,13° above NNE|2019-09-03 09:48:00.0,Tue Sep 3, 5:48 AM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|

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