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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 27, 2023 through Tuesday Dec 12, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Nov 27, 6:29 PM 3 min 18° 10° above NW 18° above NNE  
Tue Nov 28, 5:41 PM 5 min 17° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Tue Nov 28, 7:18 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NNW  
Wed Nov 29, 6:29 PM 3 min 24° 10° above NW 24° above NNE  
Thu Nov 30, 5:41 PM 5 min 20° 10° above NW 10° above ENE  
Thu Nov 30, 7:18 PM 1 min 24° 10° above NW 24° above NW  
Fri Dec 1, 6:29 PM 4 min 42° 10° above NW 39° above NE  
Sat Dec 2, 5:41 PM 6 min 30° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Sat Dec 2, 7:18 PM 2 min 34° 10° above WNW 34° above W  
Sun Dec 3, 6:29 PM 5 min 81° 10° above WNW 30° above SE  
Mon Dec 4, 5:41 PM 7 min 62° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Mon Dec 4, 7:18 PM 3 min 17° 10° above W 15° above SSW  
Tue Dec 5, 6:29 PM 6 min 29° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Wed Dec 6, 5:40 PM 7 min 50° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Thu Dec 7, 6:31 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SW  
Fri Dec 8, 5:41 PM 5 min 19° 10° above W 10° above S  
{ts '2023-11-27 23:29:00'},Mon Nov 27, 6:29 PM,3 min,18°,10° above NW,18° above NNE|{ts '2023-11-28 22:41:00'},Tue Nov 28, 5:41 PM,5 min,17°,10° above NW,10° above NE|{ts '2023-11-29 00:18:00'},Tue Nov 28, 7:18 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above NNW|{ts '2023-11-29 23:29:00'},Wed Nov 29, 6:29 PM,3 min,24°,10° above NW,24° above NNE|{ts '2023-11-30 22:41:00'},Thu Nov 30, 5:41 PM,5 min,20°,10° above NW,10° above ENE|{ts '2023-12-01 00:18:00'},Thu Nov 30, 7:18 PM,1 min,24°,10° above NW,24° above NW|{ts '2023-12-01 23:29:00'},Fri Dec 1, 6:29 PM,4 min,42°,10° above NW,39° above NE|{ts '2023-12-02 22:41:00'},Sat Dec 2, 5:41 PM,6 min,30°,10° above NW,10° above E|{ts '2023-12-03 00:18:00'},Sat Dec 2, 7:18 PM,2 min,34°,10° above WNW,34° above W|{ts '2023-12-03 23:29:00'},Sun Dec 3, 6:29 PM,5 min,81°,10° above WNW,30° above SE|{ts '2023-12-04 22:41:00'},Mon Dec 4, 5:41 PM,7 min,62°,10° above NW,10° above ESE|{ts '2023-12-05 00:18:00'},Mon Dec 4, 7:18 PM,3 min,17°,10° above W,15° above SSW|{ts '2023-12-05 23:29:00'},Tue Dec 5, 6:29 PM,6 min,29°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2023-12-06 22:40:00'},Wed Dec 6, 5:40 PM,7 min,50°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2023-12-07 23:31:00'},Thu Dec 7, 6:31 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SW|{ts '2023-12-08 22:41:00'},Fri Dec 8, 5:41 PM,5 min,19°,10° above W,10° above S|

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.