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Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 20, 2023 through Thursday Oct 5, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Sep 20, 8:12 PM 6 min 31° 10° above W 10° above NE  
Wed Sep 20, 9:50 PM 3 min 18° 10° above NW 18° above N  
Thu Sep 21, 9:02 PM 5 min 19° 10° above NW 11° above NE  
Thu Sep 21, 10:39 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NW 11° above NW  
Fri Sep 22, 8:13 PM 5 min 21° 10° above WNW 10° above NE  
Fri Sep 22, 9:51 PM 2 min 20° 10° above NW 20° above N  
Sat Sep 23, 9:03 PM 4 min 18° 10° above NW 14° above NE  
Sat Sep 23, 10:40 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above NW  
Sun Sep 24, 8:15 PM 5 min 18° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Sun Sep 24, 9:52 PM 2 min 22° 10° above NW 22° above NNW  
Mon Sep 25, 9:04 PM 3 min 23° 10° above NW 21° above NE  
Tue Sep 26, 8:16 PM 5 min 20° 10° above NW 10° above ENE  
Tue Sep 26, 9:52 PM 2 min 27° 10° above NW 27° above NW  
Wed Sep 27, 9:04 PM 4 min 35° 10° above NW 33° above NE  
Thu Sep 28, 8:16 PM 5 min 27° 10° above NW 12° above ENE  
Thu Sep 28, 9:53 PM 2 min 28° 10° above WNW 28° above WNW  
Fri Sep 29, 9:05 PM 4 min 78° 10° above NW 71° above E  
Sat Sep 30, 8:17 PM 6 min 49° 10° above NW 18° above E  
Sat Sep 30, 9:54 PM 1 min 19° 10° above W 19° above WSW  
Sun Oct 1, 9:06 PM 4 min 38° 10° above WNW 33° above S  
Mon Oct 2, 8:18 PM 6 min 66° 10° above WNW 14° above SE  
Tue Oct 3, 9:07 PM 4 min 14° 10° above W 11° above SSW  
Wed Oct 4, 8:19 PM 6 min 24° 10° above W 10° above S  
{ts '2023-09-21 00:12:00'},Wed Sep 20, 8:12 PM,6 min,31°,10° above W,10° above NE|{ts '2023-09-21 01:50:00'},Wed Sep 20, 9:50 PM,3 min,18°,10° above NW,18° above N|{ts '2023-09-22 01:02:00'},Thu Sep 21, 9:02 PM,5 min,19°,10° above NW,11° above NE|{ts '2023-09-22 02:39:00'},Thu Sep 21, 10:39 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NW,11° above NW|{ts '2023-09-23 00:13:00'},Fri Sep 22, 8:13 PM,5 min,21°,10° above WNW,10° above NE|{ts '2023-09-23 01:51:00'},Fri Sep 22, 9:51 PM,2 min,20°,10° above NW,20° above N|{ts '2023-09-24 01:03:00'},Sat Sep 23, 9:03 PM,4 min,18°,10° above NW,14° above NE|{ts '2023-09-24 02:40:00'},Sat Sep 23, 10:40 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above NW|{ts '2023-09-25 00:15:00'},Sun Sep 24, 8:15 PM,5 min,18°,10° above NW,10° above NE|{ts '2023-09-25 01:52:00'},Sun Sep 24, 9:52 PM,2 min,22°,10° above NW,22° above NNW|{ts '2023-09-26 01:04:00'},Mon Sep 25, 9:04 PM,3 min,23°,10° above NW,21° above NE|{ts '2023-09-27 00:16:00'},Tue Sep 26, 8:16 PM,5 min,20°,10° above NW,10° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-27 01:52:00'},Tue Sep 26, 9:52 PM,2 min,27°,10° above NW,27° above NW|{ts '2023-09-28 01:04:00'},Wed Sep 27, 9:04 PM,4 min,35°,10° above NW,33° above NE|{ts '2023-09-29 00:16:00'},Thu Sep 28, 8:16 PM,5 min,27°,10° above NW,12° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-29 01:53:00'},Thu Sep 28, 9:53 PM,2 min,28°,10° above WNW,28° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-30 01:05:00'},Fri Sep 29, 9:05 PM,4 min,78°,10° above NW,71° above E|{ts '2023-10-01 00:17:00'},Sat Sep 30, 8:17 PM,6 min,49°,10° above NW,18° above E|{ts '2023-10-01 01:54:00'},Sat Sep 30, 9:54 PM,1 min,19°,10° above W,19° above WSW|{ts '2023-10-02 01:06:00'},Sun Oct 1, 9:06 PM,4 min,38°,10° above WNW,33° above S|{ts '2023-10-03 00:18:00'},Mon Oct 2, 8:18 PM,6 min,66°,10° above WNW,14° above SE|{ts '2023-10-04 01:07:00'},Tue Oct 3, 9:07 PM,4 min,14°,10° above W,11° above SSW|{ts '2023-10-05 00:19:00'},Wed Oct 4, 8:19 PM,6 min,24°,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