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Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 24, 2021 through Sunday Oct 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Sep 24, 9:13 PM 4 min 18° 10° above NW 15° above NNE  
Sat Sep 25, 8:26 PM 5 min 19° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Sat Sep 25, 10:03 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NNW  
Sun Sep 26, 9:16 PM 3 min 20° 10° above NW 19° above NNE  
Mon Sep 27, 8:28 PM 5 min 19° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 27, 10:05 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NW  
Tue Sep 28, 9:18 PM 3 min 28° 10° above NW 28° above N  
Wed Sep 29, 8:31 PM 5 min 23° 10° above NW 16° above ENE  
Wed Sep 29, 10:07 PM 1 min 18° 10° above NW 18° above NW  
Thu Sep 30, 9:20 PM 3 min 47° 10° above NW 47° above NNW  
Fri Oct 1, 8:33 PM 5 min 38° 10° above NW 24° above ENE  
Fri Oct 1, 10:09 PM 1 min 15° 10° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Sat Oct 2, 9:22 PM 3 min 48° 10° above WNW 48° above W  
Sun Oct 3, 8:35 PM 5 min 87° 10° above WNW 31° above ESE  
Mon Oct 4, 7:47 PM 7 min 55° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Mon Oct 4, 9:25 PM 2 min 20° 10° above W 20° above SW  
Tue Oct 5, 8:37 PM 5 min 33° 10° above WNW 15° above SSE  
Wed Oct 6, 7:49 PM 7 min 56° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Thu Oct 7, 8:40 PM 3 min 12° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Fri Oct 8, 7:52 PM 5 min 20° 10° above W 10° above S  
2021-09-25 01:13:00.0,Fri Sep 24, 9:13 PM,4 min,18°,10° above NW,15° above NNE|2021-09-26 00:26:00.0,Sat Sep 25, 8:26 PM,5 min,19°,10° above NW,10° above NE|2021-09-26 02:03:00.0,Sat Sep 25, 10:03 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above NNW|2021-09-27 01:16:00.0,Sun Sep 26, 9:16 PM,3 min,20°,10° above NW,19° above NNE|2021-09-28 00:28:00.0,Mon Sep 27, 8:28 PM,5 min,19°,10° above NW,10° above NE|2021-09-28 02:05:00.0,Mon Sep 27, 10:05 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above NW|2021-09-29 01:18:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 9:18 PM,3 min,28°,10° above NW,28° above N|2021-09-30 00:31:00.0,Wed Sep 29, 8:31 PM,5 min,23°,10° above NW,16° above ENE|2021-09-30 02:07:00.0,Wed Sep 29, 10:07 PM,1 min,18°,10° above NW,18° above NW|2021-10-01 01:20:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 9:20 PM,3 min,47°,10° above NW,47° above NNW|2021-10-02 00:33:00.0,Fri Oct 1, 8:33 PM,5 min,38°,10° above NW,24° above ENE|2021-10-02 02:09:00.0,Fri Oct 1, 10:09 PM,1 min,15°,10° above WNW,15° above WNW|2021-10-03 01:22:00.0,Sat Oct 2, 9:22 PM,3 min,48°,10° above WNW,48° above W|2021-10-04 00:35:00.0,Sun Oct 3, 8:35 PM,5 min,87°,10° above WNW,31° above ESE|2021-10-04 23:47:00.0,Mon Oct 4, 7:47 PM,7 min,55°,10° above NW,10° above ESE|2021-10-05 01:25:00.0,Mon Oct 4, 9:25 PM,2 min,20°,10° above W,20° above SW|2021-10-06 00:37:00.0,Tue Oct 5, 8:37 PM,5 min,33°,10° above WNW,15° above SSE|2021-10-06 23:49:00.0,Wed Oct 6, 7:49 PM,7 min,56°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|2021-10-08 00:40:00.0,Thu Oct 7, 8:40 PM,3 min,12°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|2021-10-08 23:52:00.0,Fri Oct 8, 7:52 PM,5 min,20°,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