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Location: Acton, Massachusetts, 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, 7:32 PM 4 min 50° 37° above W 11° above NE  
Mon Sep 21, 9:09 PM 1 min 18° 14° above NW 18° above NNW  
Tue Sep 22, 8:22 PM 3 min 21° 17° above NW 16° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 7:34 PM 3 min 26° 24° above NW 11° above NE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM 1 min 15° 11° above NW 15° above NNW  
Thu Sep 24, 8:23 PM 3 min 17° 12° above NW 15° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 7:36 PM 4 min 18° 14° above NW 11° above NE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM < 1 min 13° 10° above NW 13° above NNW  
Sat Sep 26, 8:25 PM 2 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above N  
Sun Sep 27, 7:38 PM 4 min 16° 11° above NW 11° above NE  
Sun Sep 27, 9:15 PM < 1 min 11° 11° above NW 11° above NW  
Mon Sep 28, 6:52 PM 2 min 17° 17° above N 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 28, 8:28 PM 2 min 22° 11° above NW 22° above N  
Tue Sep 29, 7:40 PM 4 min 19° 10° above NW 16° above NE  
Tue Sep 29, 9:17 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above NW 12° above NW  
Wed Sep 30, 6:52 PM 5 min 17° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Wed Sep 30, 8:29 PM 2 min 28° 12° above NW 28° above NNW  
Thu Oct 1, 7:42 PM 4 min 29° 11° above NW 24° above NE  
Fri Oct 2, 6:55 PM 5 min 23° 11° above NW 11° above ENE  
Fri Oct 2, 8:32 PM 1 min 34° 18° above WNW 34° above WNW  
Sat Oct 3, 7:44 PM 3 min 59° 15° above NW 45° above E  
Sun Oct 4, 6:56 PM 6 min 39° 10° above NW 12° above E  
Sun Oct 4, 8:34 PM < 1 min 24° 18° above W 24° above WSW  
Mon Oct 5, 7:48 PM 2 min 49° 30° above W 33° above SSE  
2020-09-21 23:32:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 7:32 PM,4 min,50°,37° above W,11° above NE|2020-09-22 01:09:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:09 PM,1 min,18°,14° above NW,18° above NNW|2020-09-23 00:22:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:22 PM,3 min,21°,17° above NW,16° above NNE|2020-09-23 23:34:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 7:34 PM,3 min,26°,24° above NW,11° above NE|2020-09-24 01:11:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM,1 min,15°,11° above NW,15° above NNW|2020-09-25 00:23:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:23 PM,3 min,17°,12° above NW,15° above NNE|2020-09-25 23:36:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 7:36 PM,4 min,18°,14° above NW,11° above NE|2020-09-26 01:13:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM,< 1 min,13°,10° above NW,13° above NNW|2020-09-27 00:25:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:25 PM,2 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above N|2020-09-27 23:38:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 7:38 PM,4 min,16°,11° above NW,11° above NE|2020-09-28 01:15:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 9:15 PM,< 1 min,11°,11° above NW,11° above NW|2020-09-28 22:52:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 6:52 PM,2 min,17°,17° above N,10° above NE|2020-09-29 00:28:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:28 PM,2 min,22°,11° above NW,22° above N|2020-09-29 23:40:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 7:40 PM,4 min,19°,10° above NW,16° above NE|2020-09-30 01:17:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 9:17 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above NW,12° above NW|2020-09-30 22:52:00.0,Wed Sep 30, 6:52 PM,5 min,17°,10° above NW,10° above NE|2020-10-01 00:29:00.0,Wed Sep 30, 8:29 PM,2 min,28°,12° above NW,28° above NNW|2020-10-01 23:42:00.0,Thu Oct 1, 7:42 PM,4 min,29°,11° above NW,24° above NE|2020-10-02 22:55:00.0,Fri Oct 2, 6:55 PM,5 min,23°,11° above NW,11° above ENE|2020-10-03 00:32:00.0,Fri Oct 2, 8:32 PM,1 min,34°,18° above WNW,34° above WNW|2020-10-03 23:44:00.0,Sat Oct 3, 7:44 PM,3 min,59°,15° above NW,45° above E|2020-10-04 22:56:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 6:56 PM,6 min,39°,10° above NW,12° above E|2020-10-05 00:34:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 8:34 PM,< 1 min,24°,18° above W,24° above WSW|2020-10-05 23:48:00.0,Mon Oct 5, 7:48 PM,2 min,49°,30° above W,33° above SSE|

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