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Location: New York, New York, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Sep 14, 2020 through Tuesday Sep 29, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Sep 15, 9:00 PM 1 min 19° 10° above SW 19° above SW  
Wed Sep 16, 8:13 PM 4 min 34° 10° above SSW 31° above ESE  
Thu Sep 17, 7:26 PM 5 min 20° 11° above S 11° above E  
Thu Sep 17, 9:02 PM 3 min 40° 10° above WSW 40° above WNW  
Fri Sep 18, 8:14 PM 5 min 76° 10° above WSW 21° above NE  
Sat Sep 19, 7:27 PM 6 min 62° 10° above SW 11° above ENE  
Sat Sep 19, 9:06 PM 1 min 22° 20° above NW 22° above NNW  
Sun Sep 20, 8:19 PM 3 min 30° 27° above NW 13° above NE  
Mon Sep 21, 7:32 PM 4 min 45° 40° above WNW 11° above NE  
Mon Sep 21, 9:09 PM 1 min 15° 13° above NW 15° above N  
Tue Sep 22, 8:21 PM 3 min 18° 15° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 7:34 PM 4 min 22° 20° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above NNW  
Thu Sep 24, 8:23 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 7:35 PM 3 min 15° 12° above NW 11° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above NNW  
Sat Sep 26, 8:25 PM 2 min 13° 10° above NNW 12° above NNE  
Sun Sep 27, 7:38 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 27, 9:15 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above NNW  
Mon Sep 28, 8:27 PM 2 min 16° 10° above NNW 16° above N  
2020-09-16 01:00:00.0,Tue Sep 15, 9:00 PM,1 min,19°,10° above SW,19° above SW|2020-09-17 00:13:00.0,Wed Sep 16, 8:13 PM,4 min,34°,10° above SSW,31° above ESE|2020-09-17 23:26:00.0,Thu Sep 17, 7:26 PM,5 min,20°,11° above S,11° above E|2020-09-18 01:02:00.0,Thu Sep 17, 9:02 PM,3 min,40°,10° above WSW,40° above WNW|2020-09-19 00:14:00.0,Fri Sep 18, 8:14 PM,5 min,76°,10° above WSW,21° above NE|2020-09-19 23:27:00.0,Sat Sep 19, 7:27 PM,6 min,62°,10° above SW,11° above ENE|2020-09-20 01:06:00.0,Sat Sep 19, 9:06 PM,1 min,22°,20° above NW,22° above NNW|2020-09-21 00:19:00.0,Sun Sep 20, 8:19 PM,3 min,30°,27° above NW,13° above NE|2020-09-21 23:32:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 7:32 PM,4 min,45°,40° above WNW,11° above NE|2020-09-22 01:09:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:09 PM,1 min,15°,13° above NW,15° above N|2020-09-23 00:21:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:21 PM,3 min,18°,15° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-23 23:34:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 7:34 PM,4 min,22°,20° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-24 01:11:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above NNW|2020-09-25 00:23:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:23 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-25 23:35:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 7:35 PM,3 min,15°,12° above NW,11° above NNE|2020-09-26 01:13:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above NNW|2020-09-27 00:25:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:25 PM,2 min,13°,10° above NNW,12° above NNE|2020-09-27 23:38:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 7:38 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-09-28 01:15:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 9:15 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above NNW|2020-09-29 00:27:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:27 PM,2 min,16°,10° above NNW,16° 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