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Sighting Location

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Location: Elkton, Maryland, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Jan 16, 2019 through Friday Feb 1, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Jan 19, 7:01 PM < 1 min 11° 11° above S 11° above S  
Sun Jan 20, 6:11 PM 1 min 11° 10° above SSE 11° above ESE  
Sun Jan 20, 7:45 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above WSW 10° above WSW  
Mon Jan 21, 6:54 PM 2 min 43° 10° above SW 43° above SSW  
Tue Jan 22, 6:03 PM 4 min 29° 11° above SSW 18° above E  
Tue Jan 22, 7:40 PM < 1 min 16° 16° above W 16° above W  
Wed Jan 23, 6:49 PM 2 min 52° 26° above W 46° above N  
Thu Jan 24, 5:58 PM 4 min 81° 29° above SW 13° above NE  
Thu Jan 24, 7:34 PM 1 min 14° 10° above WNW 14° above NW  
Fri Jan 25, 6:43 PM 3 min 25° 17° above WNW 21° above N  
Sat Jan 26, 5:52 PM 4 min 40° 29° above WNW 11° above NE  
Sat Jan 26, 7:29 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NW  
Sun Jan 27, 6:37 PM 3 min 15° 11° above NW 13° above N  
Mon Jan 28, 5:46 PM 4 min 21° 14° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Jan 29, 6:32 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Wed Jan 30, 5:42 PM 1 min 13° 13° above N 11° above NNE  
2019-01-20 00:01:00.0,Sat Jan 19, 7:01 PM,< 1 min,11°,11° above S,11° above S|2019-01-20 23:11:00.0,Sun Jan 20, 6:11 PM,1 min,11°,10° above SSE,11° above ESE|2019-01-21 00:45:00.0,Sun Jan 20, 7:45 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above WSW,10° above WSW|2019-01-21 23:54:00.0,Mon Jan 21, 6:54 PM,2 min,43°,10° above SW,43° above SSW|2019-01-22 23:03:00.0,Tue Jan 22, 6:03 PM,4 min,29°,11° above SSW,18° above E|2019-01-23 00:40:00.0,Tue Jan 22, 7:40 PM,< 1 min,16°,16° above W,16° above W|2019-01-23 23:49:00.0,Wed Jan 23, 6:49 PM,2 min,52°,26° above W,46° above N|2019-01-24 22:58:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 5:58 PM,4 min,81°,29° above SW,13° above NE|2019-01-25 00:34:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 7:34 PM,1 min,14°,10° above WNW,14° above NW|2019-01-25 23:43:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 6:43 PM,3 min,25°,17° above WNW,21° above N|2019-01-26 22:52:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 5:52 PM,4 min,40°,29° above WNW,11° above NE|2019-01-27 00:29:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 7:29 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NW,10° above NW|2019-01-27 23:37:00.0,Sun Jan 27, 6:37 PM,3 min,15°,11° above NW,13° above N|2019-01-28 22:46:00.0,Mon Jan 28, 5:46 PM,4 min,21°,14° above WNW,10° above NNE|2019-01-29 23:32:00.0,Tue Jan 29, 6:32 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2019-01-30 22:42:00.0,Wed Jan 30, 5:42 PM,1 min,13°,13° above N,11° 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