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Location: Acton, Massachusetts, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Jul 26, 2021 through Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Jul 26, 8:59 PM 5 min 20° 10° above NW 10° above ENE  
Mon Jul 26, 10:35 PM 3 min 57° 10° above NW 57° above NE  
Tue Jul 27, 9:48 PM 5 min 39° 10° above NW 22° above E  
Tue Jul 27, 11:25 PM 1 min 17° 10° above WNW 17° above W  
Wed Jul 28, 9:01 PM 6 min 29° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Wed Jul 28, 10:37 PM 3 min 45° 10° above WNW 45° above WSW  
Thu Jul 29, 9:50 PM 4 min 87° 10° above WNW 43° above SE  
Fri Jul 30, 9:03 PM 6 min 59° 10° above NW 14° above ESE  
Fri Jul 30, 10:40 PM 1 min 17° 10° above W 17° above WSW  
Sat Jul 31, 9:52 PM 4 min 30° 10° above WNW 27° above SSW  
Sun Aug 1, 9:05 PM 6 min 51° 10° above WNW 16° above SSE  
Mon Aug 2, 9:56 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Tue Aug 3, 9:08 PM 5 min 18° 10° above W 10° above S  

The following Nauka sightings are possible from Monday Jul 26, 2021 through Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Jul 27, 10:04 PM 4 min 45° 10° above NW 36° above ENE  
Wed Jul 28, 9:06 PM 5 min 27° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Wed Jul 28, 10:42 PM 2 min 32° 10° above WNW 32° above W  
2021-07-27 00:59:00.0,Mon Jul 26, 8:59 PM,5 min,20°,10° above NW,10° above ENE|2021-07-27 02:35:00.0,Mon Jul 26, 10:35 PM,3 min,57°,10° above NW,57° above NE|2021-07-28 01:48:00.0,Tue Jul 27, 9:48 PM,5 min,39°,10° above NW,22° above E|2021-07-28 03:25:00.0,Tue Jul 27, 11:25 PM,1 min,17°,10° above WNW,17° above W|2021-07-29 01:01:00.0,Wed Jul 28, 9:01 PM,6 min,29°,10° above NW,10° above E|2021-07-29 02:37:00.0,Wed Jul 28, 10:37 PM,3 min,45°,10° above WNW,45° above WSW|2021-07-30 01:50:00.0,Thu Jul 29, 9:50 PM,4 min,87°,10° above WNW,43° above SE|2021-07-31 01:03:00.0,Fri Jul 30, 9:03 PM,6 min,59°,10° above NW,14° above ESE|2021-07-31 02:40:00.0,Fri Jul 30, 10:40 PM,1 min,17°,10° above W,17° above WSW|2021-08-01 01:52:00.0,Sat Jul 31, 9:52 PM,4 min,30°,10° above WNW,27° above SSW|2021-08-02 01:05:00.0,Sun Aug 1, 9:05 PM,6 min,51°,10° above WNW,16° above SSE|2021-08-03 01:56:00.0,Mon Aug 2, 9:56 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SW|2021-08-04 01:08:00.0,Tue Aug 3, 9:08 PM,5 min,18°,10° above W,10° above S|

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