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Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Feb 18, 2019 through Tuesday Mar 5, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Feb 20, 6:07 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSE 10° above SE  
Fri Feb 22, 5:59 AM 3 min 28° 11° above SSW 28° above SE  
Sat Feb 23, 5:08 AM 2 min 15° 11° above SSE 15° above SE  
Sun Feb 24, 5:52 AM 6 min 78° 10° above SW 15° above NE  
Mon Feb 25, 5:03 AM 2 min 38° 35° above SSE 27° above E  
Tue Feb 26, 4:14 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above E 14° above E  
Tue Feb 26, 5:47 AM 5 min 42° 21° above W 11° above NE  
Wed Feb 27, 4:58 AM 3 min 60° 60° above NNE 10° above NE  
Thu Feb 28, 4:09 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above ENE 14° above ENE  
Thu Feb 28, 5:42 AM 4 min 22° 16° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Fri Mar 1, 4:53 AM 2 min 27° 27° above N 10° above NE  
Sat Mar 2, 4:04 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NE 10° above NE  
Sat Mar 2, 5:37 AM 3 min 14° 11° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sun Mar 3, 4:48 AM 1 min 17° 17° above N 10° above NNE  
Mon Mar 4, 5:32 AM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Mar 5, 4:43 AM 1 min 12° 12° above N 10° above NNE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Monday Feb 18, 2019 through Tuesday Mar 5, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Feb 22, 5:40 AM 2 min 15° 11° above S 15° above SE  
Sat Feb 23, 5:50 AM 3 min 41° 11° above SSW 38° above ESE  
Sun Feb 24, 6:01 AM 5 min 65° 10° above WSW 11° above NE  
2019-02-20 11:07:00.0,Wed Feb 20, 6:07 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SSE,10° above SE|2019-02-22 10:59:00.0,Fri Feb 22, 5:59 AM,3 min,28°,11° above SSW,28° above SE|2019-02-23 10:08:00.0,Sat Feb 23, 5:08 AM,2 min,15°,11° above SSE,15° above SE|2019-02-24 10:52:00.0,Sun Feb 24, 5:52 AM,6 min,78°,10° above SW,15° above NE|2019-02-25 10:03:00.0,Mon Feb 25, 5:03 AM,2 min,38°,35° above SSE,27° above E|2019-02-26 09:14:00.0,Tue Feb 26, 4:14 AM,< 1 min,14°,14° above E,14° above E|2019-02-26 10:47:00.0,Tue Feb 26, 5:47 AM,5 min,42°,21° above W,11° above NE|2019-02-27 09:58:00.0,Wed Feb 27, 4:58 AM,3 min,60°,60° above NNE,10° above NE|2019-02-28 09:09:00.0,Thu Feb 28, 4:09 AM,< 1 min,14°,14° above ENE,14° above ENE|2019-02-28 10:42:00.0,Thu Feb 28, 5:42 AM,4 min,22°,16° above WNW,10° above NNE|2019-03-01 09:53:00.0,Fri Mar 1, 4:53 AM,2 min,27°,27° above N,10° above NE|2019-03-02 09:04:00.0,Sat Mar 2, 4:04 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NE,10° above NE|2019-03-02 10:37:00.0,Sat Mar 2, 5:37 AM,3 min,14°,11° above NW,10° above NNE|2019-03-03 09:48:00.0,Sun Mar 3, 4:48 AM,1 min,17°,17° above N,10° above NNE|2019-03-04 10:32:00.0,Mon Mar 4, 5:32 AM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2019-03-05 09:43:00.0,Tue Mar 5, 4:43 AM,1 min,12°,12° above N,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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton