Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Traverse City, Michigan, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Apr 17, 2024 through Thursday May 2, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Apr 20, 5:44 AM 4 min 15° 10° above S 10° above E  
Mon Apr 22, 5:42 AM 6 min 36° 13° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Tue Apr 23, 4:55 AM 3 min 22° 21° above SSE 10° above E  
Wed Apr 24, 4:08 AM 1 min 12° 12° above ESE 10° above E  
Wed Apr 24, 5:41 AM 6 min 90° 18° above WSW 10° above ENE  
Thu Apr 25, 4:54 AM 4 min 55° 48° above S 10° above ENE  
Fri Apr 26, 4:07 AM 2 min 24° 24° above E 10° above ENE  
Fri Apr 26, 5:40 AM 6 min 44° 13° above W 10° above NE  
Sat Apr 27, 4:52 AM 4 min 65° 45° above W 10° above NE  
Sun Apr 28, 4:05 AM 3 min 50° 50° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Sun Apr 28, 5:38 AM 6 min 29° 10° above WNW 10° above NE  
Mon Apr 29, 3:18 AM 1 min 15° 15° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Mon Apr 29, 4:51 AM 4 min 36° 24° above WNW 10° above NE  
Tue Apr 30, 4:03 AM 3 min 47° 47° above N 10° above NE  
Tue Apr 30, 5:37 AM 6 min 24° 10° above WNW 10° above NE  
Wed May 1, 3:16 AM 1 min 22° 22° above NE 10° above ENE  
Wed May 1, 4:48 AM 5 min 26° 13° above WNW 10° above NE  
Thu May 2, 4:01 AM 4 min 30° 29° above NNW 10° above NE  
Thu May 2, 5:36 AM 6 min 25° 10° above NW 10° above ENE  
{ts '2024-04-20 09:44:00'},Sat Apr 20, 5:44 AM,4 min,15°,10° above S,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-22 09:42:00'},Mon Apr 22, 5:42 AM,6 min,36°,13° above SSW,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-04-23 08:55:00'},Tue Apr 23, 4:55 AM,3 min,22°,21° above SSE,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-24 08:08:00'},Wed Apr 24, 4:08 AM,1 min,12°,12° above ESE,10° above E|{ts '2024-04-24 09:41:00'},Wed Apr 24, 5:41 AM,6 min,90°,18° above WSW,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-04-25 08:54:00'},Thu Apr 25, 4:54 AM,4 min,55°,48° above S,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-04-26 08:07:00'},Fri Apr 26, 4:07 AM,2 min,24°,24° above E,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-04-26 09:40:00'},Fri Apr 26, 5:40 AM,6 min,44°,13° above W,10° above NE|{ts '2024-04-27 08:52:00'},Sat Apr 27, 4:52 AM,4 min,65°,45° above W,10° above NE|{ts '2024-04-28 08:05:00'},Sun Apr 28, 4:05 AM,3 min,50°,50° above ENE,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-04-28 09:38:00'},Sun Apr 28, 5:38 AM,6 min,29°,10° above WNW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-04-29 07:18:00'},Mon Apr 29, 3:18 AM,1 min,15°,15° above ENE,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-04-29 08:51:00'},Mon Apr 29, 4:51 AM,4 min,36°,24° above WNW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-04-30 08:03:00'},Tue Apr 30, 4:03 AM,3 min,47°,47° above N,10° above NE|{ts '2024-04-30 09:37:00'},Tue Apr 30, 5:37 AM,6 min,24°,10° above WNW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-05-01 07:16:00'},Wed May 1, 3:16 AM,1 min,22°,22° above NE,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-05-01 08:48:00'},Wed May 1, 4:48 AM,5 min,26°,13° above WNW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-05-02 08:01:00'},Thu May 2, 4:01 AM,4 min,30°,29° above NNW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-05-02 09:36:00'},Thu May 2, 5:36 AM,6 min,25°,10° above NW,10° above ENE|

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