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Sighting Location

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Location: Hanover, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Jan 15, 2020 through Friday Jan 31, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Jan 17, 7:22 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSW 10° above SSW  
Sat Jan 18, 6:35 PM 2 min 17° 10° above S 17° above SE  
Sun Jan 19, 5:49 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above SE  
Sun Jan 19, 7:22 PM 2 min 28° 10° above SW 28° above SW  
Mon Jan 20, 6:34 PM 4 min 53° 10° above SW 47° above ESE  
Tue Jan 21, 5:47 PM 6 min 29° 10° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Tue Jan 21, 7:24 PM < 1 min 25° 19° above W 25° above WNW  
Wed Jan 22, 6:37 PM 3 min 50° 31° above W 28° above NNE  
Thu Jan 23, 5:49 PM 4 min 86° 44° above SW 10° above NE  
Thu Jan 23, 7:25 PM 2 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above NW  
Fri Jan 24, 6:38 PM 3 min 23° 16° above WNW 18° above N  
Sat Jan 25, 5:51 PM 4 min 32° 25° above WNW 11° above NE  
Sat Jan 25, 7:28 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above NNW  
Sun Jan 26, 6:40 PM 3 min 14° 10° above NW 12° above N  
Mon Jan 27, 5:52 PM 5 min 17° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Jan 28, 6:43 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above N  
Wed Jan 29, 5:55 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
2020-01-18 00:22:00.0,Fri Jan 17, 7:22 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SSW,10° above SSW|2020-01-18 23:35:00.0,Sat Jan 18, 6:35 PM,2 min,17°,10° above S,17° above SE|2020-01-19 22:49:00.0,Sun Jan 19, 5:49 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SE,10° above SE|2020-01-20 00:22:00.0,Sun Jan 19, 7:22 PM,2 min,28°,10° above SW,28° above SW|2020-01-20 23:34:00.0,Mon Jan 20, 6:34 PM,4 min,53°,10° above SW,47° above ESE|2020-01-21 22:47:00.0,Tue Jan 21, 5:47 PM,6 min,29°,10° above SSW,11° above ENE|2020-01-22 00:24:00.0,Tue Jan 21, 7:24 PM,< 1 min,25°,19° above W,25° above WNW|2020-01-22 23:37:00.0,Wed Jan 22, 6:37 PM,3 min,50°,31° above W,28° above NNE|2020-01-23 22:49:00.0,Thu Jan 23, 5:49 PM,4 min,86°,44° above SW,10° above NE|2020-01-24 00:25:00.0,Thu Jan 23, 7:25 PM,2 min,16°,10° above WNW,16° above NW|2020-01-24 23:38:00.0,Fri Jan 24, 6:38 PM,3 min,23°,16° above WNW,18° above N|2020-01-25 22:51:00.0,Sat Jan 25, 5:51 PM,4 min,32°,25° above WNW,11° above NE|2020-01-26 00:28:00.0,Sat Jan 25, 7:28 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above NNW|2020-01-26 23:40:00.0,Sun Jan 26, 6:40 PM,3 min,14°,10° above NW,12° above N|2020-01-27 22:52:00.0,Mon Jan 27, 5:52 PM,5 min,17°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|2020-01-28 23:43:00.0,Tue Jan 28, 6:43 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above N|2020-01-29 22:55:00.0,Wed Jan 29, 5:55 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|

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