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Location: Portland, Oregon, 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, 8:20 PM 6 min 33° 10° above W 12° above NE  
Wed Sep 20, 9:57 PM 1 min 20° 10° above NW 20° above NW  
Thu Sep 21, 9:09 PM 3 min 27° 10° above WNW 27° above N  
Fri Sep 22, 8:21 PM 5 min 27° 10° above WNW 14° above NE  
Fri Sep 22, 9:58 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NW  
Sat Sep 23, 9:10 PM 3 min 32° 10° above NW 32° above N  
Sun Sep 24, 8:22 PM 5 min 29° 10° above NW 18° above NE  
Sun Sep 24, 9:59 PM 1 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above WNW  
Mon Sep 25, 7:34 PM 6 min 27° 10° above WNW 10° above ENE  
Mon Sep 25, 9:11 PM 2 min 40° 10° above NW 40° above NNW  
Tue Sep 26, 8:23 PM 4 min 39° 10° above NW 27° above ENE  
Tue Sep 26, 9:59 PM 1 min 13° 10° above WNW 13° above WNW  
Wed Sep 27, 7:34 PM 6 min 32° 10° above NW 9° above E  
Wed Sep 27, 9:11 PM 3 min 47° 10° above WNW 47° above WNW  
Thu Sep 28, 8:23 PM 4 min 72° 10° above WNW 41° above E  
Fri Sep 29, 7:35 PM 6 min 50° 10° above NW 12° above E  
Fri Sep 29, 9:12 PM 2 min 27° 10° above WNW 27° above WSW  
Sat Sep 30, 8:24 PM 5 min 49° 10° above WNW 31° above SSE  
Sun Oct 1, 7:36 PM 7 min 78° 10° above WNW 11° above SE  
Sun Oct 1, 9:14 PM 1 min 12° 10° above WSW 12° above SW  
Mon Oct 2, 8:25 PM 5 min 20° 10° above W 13° above S  
Tue Oct 3, 7:37 PM 6 min 31° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
{ts '2023-09-21 03:20:00'},Wed Sep 20, 8:20 PM,6 min,33°,10° above W,12° above NE|{ts '2023-09-21 04:57:00'},Wed Sep 20, 9:57 PM,1 min,20°,10° above NW,20° above NW|{ts '2023-09-22 04:09:00'},Thu Sep 21, 9:09 PM,3 min,27°,10° above WNW,27° above N|{ts '2023-09-23 03:21:00'},Fri Sep 22, 8:21 PM,5 min,27°,10° above WNW,14° above NE|{ts '2023-09-23 04:58:00'},Fri Sep 22, 9:58 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above NW|{ts '2023-09-24 04:10:00'},Sat Sep 23, 9:10 PM,3 min,32°,10° above NW,32° above N|{ts '2023-09-25 03:22:00'},Sun Sep 24, 8:22 PM,5 min,29°,10° above NW,18° above NE|{ts '2023-09-25 04:59:00'},Sun Sep 24, 9:59 PM,1 min,16°,10° above WNW,16° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-26 02:34:00'},Mon Sep 25, 7:34 PM,6 min,27°,10° above WNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-26 04:11:00'},Mon Sep 25, 9:11 PM,2 min,40°,10° above NW,40° above NNW|{ts '2023-09-27 03:23:00'},Tue Sep 26, 8:23 PM,4 min,39°,10° above NW,27° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-27 04:59:00'},Tue Sep 26, 9:59 PM,1 min,13°,10° above WNW,13° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-28 02:34:00'},Wed Sep 27, 7:34 PM,6 min,32°,10° above NW,9° above E|{ts '2023-09-28 04:11:00'},Wed Sep 27, 9:11 PM,3 min,47°,10° above WNW,47° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-29 03:23:00'},Thu Sep 28, 8:23 PM,4 min,72°,10° above WNW,41° above E|{ts '2023-09-30 02:35:00'},Fri Sep 29, 7:35 PM,6 min,50°,10° above NW,12° above E|{ts '2023-09-30 04:12:00'},Fri Sep 29, 9:12 PM,2 min,27°,10° above WNW,27° above WSW|{ts '2023-10-01 03:24:00'},Sat Sep 30, 8:24 PM,5 min,49°,10° above WNW,31° above SSE|{ts '2023-10-02 02:36:00'},Sun Oct 1, 7:36 PM,7 min,78°,10° above WNW,11° above SE|{ts '2023-10-02 04:14:00'},Sun Oct 1, 9:14 PM,1 min,12°,10° above WSW,12° above SW|{ts '2023-10-03 03:25:00'},Mon Oct 2, 8:25 PM,5 min,20°,10° above W,13° above S|{ts '2023-10-04 02:37:00'},Tue Oct 3, 7:37 PM,6 min,31°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|

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