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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 Sep 20, 2023 through Thursday Oct 5, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Sep 20, 8:15 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Thu Sep 21, 9:05 PM 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above N  
Fri Sep 22, 8:17 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 23, 7:28 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 23, 9:06 PM 1 min 13° 10° above NNW 13° above N  
Sun Sep 24, 8:18 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Sep 25, 7:30 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Sep 25, 9:06 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NNW 17° above NNW  
Tue Sep 26, 8:18 PM 3 min 17° 10° above NNW 16° above NNE  
Wed Sep 27, 7:30 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Wed Sep 27, 9:06 PM 1 min 20° 10° above NW 20° above NNW  
Thu Sep 28, 8:18 PM 3 min 28° 10° above NW 28° above NNE  
Fri Sep 29, 7:30 PM 5 min 21° 10° above NNW 12° above ENE  
Fri Sep 29, 9:07 PM 1 min 24° 10° above WNW 24° above WNW  
Sat Sep 30, 8:19 PM 4 min 67° 10° above NW 67° above ENE  
Sun Oct 1, 7:31 PM 5 min 41° 10° above NW 17° above E  
Sun Oct 1, 9:08 PM 1 min 17° 10° above W 17° above W  
Mon Oct 2, 8:20 PM 4 min 38° 10° above WNW 33° above S  
Tue Oct 3, 7:32 PM 6 min 70° 10° above WNW 12° above SE  
Wed Oct 4, 8:22 PM 3 min 13° 10° above W 10° above SSW  
{ts '2023-09-21 00:15:00'},Wed Sep 20, 8:15 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-22 01:05:00'},Thu Sep 21, 9:05 PM,1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above N|{ts '2023-09-23 00:17:00'},Fri Sep 22, 8:17 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-23 23:28:00'},Sat Sep 23, 7:28 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-24 01:06:00'},Sat Sep 23, 9:06 PM,1 min,13°,10° above NNW,13° above N|{ts '2023-09-25 00:18:00'},Sun Sep 24, 8:18 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-25 23:30:00'},Mon Sep 25, 7:30 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-26 01:06:00'},Mon Sep 25, 9:06 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NNW,17° above NNW|{ts '2023-09-27 00:18:00'},Tue Sep 26, 8:18 PM,3 min,17°,10° above NNW,16° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-27 23:30:00'},Wed Sep 27, 7:30 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|{ts '2023-09-28 01:06:00'},Wed Sep 27, 9:06 PM,1 min,20°,10° above NW,20° above NNW|{ts '2023-09-29 00:18:00'},Thu Sep 28, 8:18 PM,3 min,28°,10° above NW,28° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-29 23:30:00'},Fri Sep 29, 7:30 PM,5 min,21°,10° above NNW,12° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-30 01:07:00'},Fri Sep 29, 9:07 PM,1 min,24°,10° above WNW,24° above WNW|{ts '2023-10-01 00:19:00'},Sat Sep 30, 8:19 PM,4 min,67°,10° above NW,67° above ENE|{ts '2023-10-01 23:31:00'},Sun Oct 1, 7:31 PM,5 min,41°,10° above NW,17° above E|{ts '2023-10-02 01:08:00'},Sun Oct 1, 9:08 PM,1 min,17°,10° above W,17° above W|{ts '2023-10-03 00:20:00'},Mon Oct 2, 8:20 PM,4 min,38°,10° above WNW,33° above S|{ts '2023-10-03 23:32:00'},Tue Oct 3, 7:32 PM,6 min,70°,10° above WNW,12° above SE|{ts '2023-10-05 00:22:00'},Wed Oct 4, 8:22 PM,3 min,13°,10° above W,10° above SSW|

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