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Sighting Location

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Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Feb 18, 6:23 AM 2 min 26° 11° above S 26° above SE  
Wed Feb 19, 5:36 AM 2 min 14° 10° above SSE 14° above SE  
Thu Feb 20, 6:24 AM 4 min 80° 10° above SW 64° above NNE  
Fri Feb 21, 5:36 AM 5 min 51° 11° above SSW 25° above ENE  
Sat Feb 22, 4:52 AM 1 min 26° 26° above SE 22° above E  
Sun Feb 23, 5:40 AM 4 min 43° 29° above W 10° above NE  
Mon Feb 24, 4:54 AM 2 min 39° 39° above NE 11° above NE  
Tue Feb 25, 5:42 AM 3 min 17° 16° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Feb 26, 4:57 AM 1 min 17° 17° above N 11° above NNE  
Fri Feb 28, 4:58 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above N 10° above N  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Feb 17, 6:30 AM < 1 min 12° 11° above SSE 12° above SSE  
Tue Feb 18, 5:58 AM < 1 min 12° 10° above SSE 12° above SE  
Thu Feb 20, 6:27 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SW 10° above SW  
Fri Feb 21, 5:55 AM 7 min 70° 11° above SW 10° above NE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:24 AM 5 min 54° 18° above SSW 16° above ENE  
Sun Feb 23, 4:54 AM 2 min 42° 42° above SE 21° above ENE  
Mon Feb 24, 4:23 AM < 1 min 20° 20° above E 15° above ENE  
Mon Feb 24, 5:57 AM 5 min 25° 14° above W 11° above NNE  
Tue Feb 25, 5:27 AM 3 min 29° 28° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Feb 26, 4:56 AM 2 min 26° 26° above N 10° above NNE  
Thu Feb 27, 4:25 AM < 1 min 16° 16° above NNE 11° above NE  
Fri Feb 28, 5:29 AM 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Sat Feb 29, 4:58 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above N 10° above N  
2020-02-18 13:23:00.0,Tue Feb 18, 6:23 AM,2 min,26°,11° above S,26° above SE|2020-02-19 12:36:00.0,Wed Feb 19, 5:36 AM,2 min,14°,10° above SSE,14° above SE|2020-02-20 13:24:00.0,Thu Feb 20, 6:24 AM,4 min,80°,10° above SW,64° above NNE|2020-02-21 12:36:00.0,Fri Feb 21, 5:36 AM,5 min,51°,11° above SSW,25° above ENE|2020-02-22 11:52:00.0,Sat Feb 22, 4:52 AM,1 min,26°,26° above SE,22° above E|2020-02-23 12:40:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 5:40 AM,4 min,43°,29° above W,10° above NE|2020-02-24 11:54:00.0,Mon Feb 24, 4:54 AM,2 min,39°,39° above NE,11° above NE|2020-02-25 12:42:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 5:42 AM,3 min,17°,16° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-02-26 11:57:00.0,Wed Feb 26, 4:57 AM,1 min,17°,17° above N,11° above NNE|2020-02-28 11:58:00.0,Fri Feb 28, 4:58 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above N,10° above N|

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