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Sighting Location

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Location: Elkton, Maryland, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Sep 21, 2020 through Tuesday Oct 6, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Sep 21, 7:31 PM 4 min 43° 39° above WNW 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 21, 9:08 PM 2 min 13° 12° above NW 13° above N  
Tue Sep 22, 8:21 PM 3 min 16° 14° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 7:33 PM 3 min 21° 19° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Thu Sep 24, 8:23 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Fri Sep 25, 7:35 PM 3 min 13° 11° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Sat Sep 26, 8:26 PM 2 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 27, 7:38 PM 2 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 27, 9:15 PM < 1 min 11° 11° above NNW 11° above NNW  
Mon Sep 28, 8:28 PM 2 min 13° 10° above NNW 13° above NNE  
Tue Sep 29, 7:40 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Sep 29, 9:16 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NW 11° above NNW  
Wed Sep 30, 8:29 PM 2 min 18° 10° above NNW 18° above N  
Thu Oct 1, 7:42 PM 3 min 15° 11° above NNW 12° above NE  
Thu Oct 1, 9:19 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above NW 12° above NW  
Fri Oct 2, 8:31 PM 2 min 33° 10° above NW 33° above N  
Sat Oct 3, 7:44 PM 4 min 27° 10° above NW 23° above ENE  
Sun Oct 4, 7:00 PM 1 min 16° 16° above NE 10° above ENE  
Sun Oct 4, 8:34 PM 1 min 51° 22° above WNW 51° above W  
Mon Oct 5, 7:46 PM 4 min 69° 12° above NW 31° above ESE  
2020-09-21 23:31:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 7:31 PM,4 min,43°,39° above WNW,10° above NE|2020-09-22 01:08:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:08 PM,2 min,13°,12° above NW,13° above N|2020-09-23 00:21:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:21 PM,3 min,16°,14° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-23 23:33:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 7:33 PM,3 min,21°,19° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-24 01:11:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2020-09-25 00:23:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:23 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2020-09-25 23:35:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 7:35 PM,3 min,13°,11° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-26 01:13:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|2020-09-27 00:26:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:26 PM,2 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-09-27 23:38:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 7:38 PM,2 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-09-28 01:15:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 9:15 PM,< 1 min,11°,11° above NNW,11° above NNW|2020-09-29 00:28:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:28 PM,2 min,13°,10° above NNW,13° above NNE|2020-09-29 23:40:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 7:40 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-09-30 01:16:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 9:16 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NW,11° above NNW|2020-10-01 00:29:00.0,Wed Sep 30, 8:29 PM,2 min,18°,10° above NNW,18° above N|2020-10-01 23:42:00.0,Thu Oct 1, 7:42 PM,3 min,15°,11° above NNW,12° above NE|2020-10-02 01:19:00.0,Thu Oct 1, 9:19 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above NW,12° above NW|2020-10-03 00:31:00.0,Fri Oct 2, 8:31 PM,2 min,33°,10° above NW,33° above N|2020-10-03 23:44:00.0,Sat Oct 3, 7:44 PM,4 min,27°,10° above NW,23° above ENE|2020-10-04 23:00:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 7:00 PM,1 min,16°,16° above NE,10° above ENE|2020-10-05 00:34:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 8:34 PM,1 min,51°,22° above WNW,51° above W|2020-10-05 23:46:00.0,Mon Oct 5, 7:46 PM,4 min,69°,12° above NW,31° above ESE|

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 chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton