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Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2019 through Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Nov 14, 5:14 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above SSE 11° above SSE  
Wed Nov 20, 6:39 PM 1 min 14° 10° above SSE 14° above SSE  
Thu Nov 21, 7:26 PM 2 min 28° 10° above SW 28° above SW  
Fri Nov 22, 6:37 PM 4 min 38° 10° above SSW 34° above ESE  
Sat Nov 23, 5:50 PM 5 min 23° 11° above S 11° above E  
Sat Nov 23, 7:27 PM 1 min 36° 21° above W 36° above WNW  
Sun Nov 24, 6:39 PM 3 min 77° 28° above WSW 40° above NE  
Mon Nov 25, 5:50 PM 5 min 63° 28° above SW 11° above ENE  
Mon Nov 25, 7:27 PM 1 min 23° 15° above WNW 23° above NW  
Tue Nov 26, 6:39 PM 3 min 35° 23° above WNW 26° above NNE  
Wed Nov 27, 5:51 PM 4 min 52° 31° above W 11° above NE  
Wed Nov 27, 7:27 PM 1 min 17° 10° above WNW 17° above NW  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2019 through Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Nov 1, 6:37 AM 3 min 37° 37° above NNW 11° above NE  
Sat Nov 2, 6:06 AM 2 min 26° 26° above NNE 11° above NE  
Sat Nov 2, 7:40 AM 5 min 20° 10° above NW 11° above NE  
Sun Nov 3, 4:34 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above NE 10° above NE  
Sun Nov 3, 6:08 AM 4 min 21° 17° above NW 11° above NE  
Mon Nov 4, 5:37 AM 3 min 22° 22° above NNW 10° above NE  
Tue Nov 5, 5:06 AM 1 min 18° 18° above NNE 10° above NE  
Tue Nov 5, 6:40 AM 5 min 22° 10° above NW 11° above ENE  
Wed Nov 6, 4:34 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above NE 11° above NE  
Wed Nov 6, 6:09 AM 4 min 21° 15° above NNW 11° above ENE  
Thu Nov 7, 5:37 AM 3 min 20° 20° above N 11° above NE  
Fri Nov 8, 5:06 AM 2 min 18° 18° above NNE 10° above NE  
Fri Nov 8, 6:40 AM 5 min 39° 10° above NW 28° above ENE  
Sat Nov 9, 4:35 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NE 10° above NE  
Sat Nov 9, 6:09 AM 4 min 35° 19° above NW 23° above ENE  
Sun Nov 10, 5:37 AM 2 min 31° 29° above N 21° above ENE  
Mon Nov 11, 5:06 AM 1 min 24° 24° above NE 17° above ENE  
Mon Nov 11, 6:40 AM 5 min 67° 12° above WNW 27° above SE  
Tue Nov 12, 4:35 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above ENE 12° above ENE  
Tue Nov 12, 6:09 AM 4 min 81° 31° above WNW 23° above SE  
Wed Nov 13, 5:38 AM 2 min 82° 82° above ENE 19° above ESE  
Thu Nov 14, 5:07 AM 1 min 27° 27° above ESE 13° above ESE  
Thu Nov 14, 6:41 AM 4 min 17° 12° above W 11° above S  
Fri Nov 15, 4:36 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Fri Nov 15, 6:10 AM 3 min 20° 20° above SW 10° above S  
Sat Nov 16, 5:39 AM 1 min 19° 19° above S 11° above S  
Thu Nov 21, 7:45 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSW 10° above SSW  
2019-11-14 10:14:00.0,Thu Nov 14, 5:14 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above SSE,11° above SSE|2019-11-20 23:39:00.0,Wed Nov 20, 6:39 PM,1 min,14°,10° above SSE,14° above SSE|2019-11-22 00:26:00.0,Thu Nov 21, 7:26 PM,2 min,28°,10° above SW,28° above SW|2019-11-22 23:37:00.0,Fri Nov 22, 6:37 PM,4 min,38°,10° above SSW,34° above ESE|2019-11-23 22:50:00.0,Sat Nov 23, 5:50 PM,5 min,23°,11° above S,11° above E|2019-11-24 00:27:00.0,Sat Nov 23, 7:27 PM,1 min,36°,21° above W,36° above WNW|2019-11-24 23:39:00.0,Sun Nov 24, 6:39 PM,3 min,77°,28° above WSW,40° above NE|2019-11-25 22:50:00.0,Mon Nov 25, 5:50 PM,5 min,63°,28° above SW,11° above ENE|2019-11-26 00:27:00.0,Mon Nov 25, 7:27 PM,1 min,23°,15° above WNW,23° above NW|2019-11-26 23:39:00.0,Tue Nov 26, 6:39 PM,3 min,35°,23° above WNW,26° above NNE|2019-11-27 22:51:00.0,Wed Nov 27, 5:51 PM,4 min,52°,31° above W,11° above NE|2019-11-28 00:27:00.0,Wed Nov 27, 7:27 PM,1 min,17°,10° above WNW,17° above NW|

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

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