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Location: Acton, Massachusetts, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Jan 15, 2021 through Saturday Jan 30, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Jan 16, 6:52 PM < 1 min 14° 10° above SSW 14° above SSW  
Sun Jan 17, 6:05 PM 2 min 18° 10° above S 18° above SE  
Mon Jan 18, 5:19 PM 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above ESE  
Mon Jan 18, 6:52 PM 2 min 34° 10° above SW 34° above SW  
Tue Jan 19, 6:05 PM 4 min 50° 10° above SW 38° above E  
Wed Jan 20, 5:18 PM 5 min 29° 11° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Wed Jan 20, 6:55 PM 1 min 32° 20° above W 32° above WNW  
Thu Jan 21, 6:08 PM 3 min 59° 32° above W 31° above NE  
Fri Jan 22, 5:21 PM 4 min 86° 43° above SW 10° above ENE  
Fri Jan 22, 6:57 PM 2 min 21° 12° above WNW 21° above NNW  
Sat Jan 23, 6:10 PM 3 min 28° 18° above WNW 22° above NNE  
Sun Jan 24, 5:23 PM 4 min 39° 27° above WNW 10° above NE  
Sun Jan 24, 6:59 PM 1 min 15° 10° above NW 15° above NNW  
Mon Jan 25, 6:12 PM 4 min 19° 10° above WNW 16° above NNE  
Tue Jan 26, 5:24 PM 5 min 22° 12° above WNW 10° above NE  
Tue Jan 26, 7:02 PM 1 min 14° 10° above NW 14° above NNW  
Wed Jan 27, 6:15 PM 3 min 17° 11° above NW 16° above NNE  
Thu Jan 28, 5:27 PM 5 min 17° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Thu Jan 28, 7:04 PM < 1 min 14° 10° above NW 14° above NNW  
Fri Jan 29, 6:17 PM 3 min 18° 10° above NW 18° above NNE  
2021-01-16 23:52:00.0,Sat Jan 16, 6:52 PM,< 1 min,14°,10° above SSW,14° above SSW|2021-01-17 23:05:00.0,Sun Jan 17, 6:05 PM,2 min,18°,10° above S,18° above SE|2021-01-18 22:19:00.0,Mon Jan 18, 5:19 PM,1 min,10°,10° above SE,10° above ESE|2021-01-18 23:52:00.0,Mon Jan 18, 6:52 PM,2 min,34°,10° above SW,34° above SW|2021-01-19 23:05:00.0,Tue Jan 19, 6:05 PM,4 min,50°,10° above SW,38° above E|2021-01-20 22:18:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 5:18 PM,5 min,29°,11° above SSW,11° above ENE|2021-01-20 23:55:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 6:55 PM,1 min,32°,20° above W,32° above WNW|2021-01-21 23:08:00.0,Thu Jan 21, 6:08 PM,3 min,59°,32° above W,31° above NE|2021-01-22 22:21:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 5:21 PM,4 min,86°,43° above SW,10° above ENE|2021-01-22 23:57:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 6:57 PM,2 min,21°,12° above WNW,21° above NNW|2021-01-23 23:10:00.0,Sat Jan 23, 6:10 PM,3 min,28°,18° above WNW,22° above NNE|2021-01-24 22:23:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 5:23 PM,4 min,39°,27° above WNW,10° above NE|2021-01-24 23:59:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 6:59 PM,1 min,15°,10° above NW,15° above NNW|2021-01-25 23:12:00.0,Mon Jan 25, 6:12 PM,4 min,19°,10° above WNW,16° above NNE|2021-01-26 22:24:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 5:24 PM,5 min,22°,12° above WNW,10° above NE|2021-01-27 00:02:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 7:02 PM,1 min,14°,10° above NW,14° above NNW|2021-01-27 23:15:00.0,Wed Jan 27, 6:15 PM,3 min,17°,11° above NW,16° above NNE|2021-01-28 22:27:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 5:27 PM,5 min,17°,10° above NW,10° above NE|2021-01-29 00:04:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 7:04 PM,< 1 min,14°,10° above NW,14° above NNW|2021-01-29 23:17:00.0,Fri Jan 29, 6:17 PM,3 min,18°,10° above NW,18° 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 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