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Sighting Location

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Location: Benjamin Franklin Naitonal Memorial, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Nov 27, 2024 through Thursday Dec 12, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Nov 27, 5:11 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Wed Nov 27, 6:47 PM 1 min 15° 10° above NW 15° above NNW  
Thu Nov 28, 5:59 PM 3 min 23° 10° above NNW 23° above NNE  
Fri Nov 29, 5:11 PM 5 min 18° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Fri Nov 29, 6:47 PM 2 min 28° 10° above NW 28° above NW  
Sat Nov 30, 5:59 PM 4 min 49° 10° above NW 40° above ENE  
Sun Dec 1, 5:10 PM 6 min 31° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Sun Dec 1, 6:47 PM 3 min 31° 10° above WNW 31° above WSW  
Mon Dec 2, 5:58 PM 6 min 58° 10° above WNW 14° above SE  
Tue Dec 3, 5:10 PM 7 min 78° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Tue Dec 3, 6:48 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Wed Dec 4, 5:59 PM 5 min 20° 10° above W 10° above S  
Thu Dec 5, 5:10 PM 6 min 35° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Sat Dec 7, 5:10 PM 3 min 12° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Tue Dec 10, 6:40 AM 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above ESE  
Thu Dec 12, 6:36 AM 6 min 29° 10° above SSW 10° above ENE  
{ts '2024-11-27 22:11:00'},Wed Nov 27, 5:11 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|{ts '2024-11-27 23:47:00'},Wed Nov 27, 6:47 PM,1 min,15°,10° above NW,15° above NNW|{ts '2024-11-28 22:59:00'},Thu Nov 28, 5:59 PM,3 min,23°,10° above NNW,23° above NNE|{ts '2024-11-29 22:11:00'},Fri Nov 29, 5:11 PM,5 min,18°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-11-29 23:47:00'},Fri Nov 29, 6:47 PM,2 min,28°,10° above NW,28° above NW|{ts '2024-11-30 22:59:00'},Sat Nov 30, 5:59 PM,4 min,49°,10° above NW,40° above ENE|{ts '2024-12-01 22:10:00'},Sun Dec 1, 5:10 PM,6 min,31°,10° above NW,10° above E|{ts '2024-12-01 23:47:00'},Sun Dec 1, 6:47 PM,3 min,31°,10° above WNW,31° above WSW|{ts '2024-12-02 22:58:00'},Mon Dec 2, 5:58 PM,6 min,58°,10° above WNW,14° above SE|{ts '2024-12-03 22:10:00'},Tue Dec 3, 5:10 PM,7 min,78°,10° above NW,10° above SE|{ts '2024-12-03 23:48:00'},Tue Dec 3, 6:48 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2024-12-04 22:59:00'},Wed Dec 4, 5:59 PM,5 min,20°,10° above W,10° above S|{ts '2024-12-05 22:10:00'},Thu Dec 5, 5:10 PM,6 min,35°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-12-07 22:10:00'},Sat Dec 7, 5:10 PM,3 min,12°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2024-12-10 11:40:00'},Tue Dec 10, 6:40 AM,1 min,10°,10° above SE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-12-12 11:36:00'},Thu Dec 12, 6:36 AM,6 min,29°,10° above SSW,10° above ENE|

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.