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Sighting Location

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Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Oct 19, 2018 through Saturday Nov 3, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Oct 25, 6:32 AM 2 min 14° 10° above SSE 14° above SE  
Fri Oct 26, 7:15 AM 6 min 73° 10° above SW 10° above ENE  
Sat Oct 27, 6:23 AM 4 min 35° 10° above SSW 30° above ESE  
Sun Oct 28, 5:34 AM 1 min 18° 18° above SE 16° above ESE  
Sun Oct 28, 7:07 AM 6 min 46° 10° above WSW 12° above NE  
Mon Oct 29, 6:17 AM 4 min 86° 46° above WSW 10° above NE  
Tue Oct 30, 5:28 AM < 1 min 23° 23° above ENE 16° above ENE  
Tue Oct 30, 7:01 AM 5 min 24° 13° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Wed Oct 31, 6:11 AM 2 min 34° 34° above N 11° above NE  
Thu Nov 1, 5:22 AM < 1 min 13° 13° above NE 10° above NE  
Thu Nov 1, 6:54 AM 3 min 16° 13° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Nov 2, 6:05 AM 1 min 17° 17° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat Nov 3, 6:48 AM 2 min 12° 11° above NNW 10° above NNE  
2018-10-25 10:32:00.0,Thu Oct 25, 6:32 AM,2 min,14°,10° above SSE,14° above SE|2018-10-26 11:15:00.0,Fri Oct 26, 7:15 AM,6 min,73°,10° above SW,10° above ENE|2018-10-27 10:23:00.0,Sat Oct 27, 6:23 AM,4 min,35°,10° above SSW,30° above ESE|2018-10-28 09:34:00.0,Sun Oct 28, 5:34 AM,1 min,18°,18° above SE,16° above ESE|2018-10-28 11:07:00.0,Sun Oct 28, 7:07 AM,6 min,46°,10° above WSW,12° above NE|2018-10-29 10:17:00.0,Mon Oct 29, 6:17 AM,4 min,86°,46° above WSW,10° above NE|2018-10-30 09:28:00.0,Tue Oct 30, 5:28 AM,< 1 min,23°,23° above ENE,16° above ENE|2018-10-30 11:01:00.0,Tue Oct 30, 7:01 AM,5 min,24°,13° above WNW,11° above NNE|2018-10-31 10:11:00.0,Wed Oct 31, 6:11 AM,2 min,34°,34° above N,11° above NE|2018-11-01 09:22:00.0,Thu Nov 1, 5:22 AM,< 1 min,13°,13° above NE,10° above NE|2018-11-01 10:54:00.0,Thu Nov 1, 6:54 AM,3 min,16°,13° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-11-02 10:05:00.0,Fri Nov 2, 6:05 AM,1 min,17°,17° above N,10° above NNE|2018-11-03 10:48:00.0,Sat Nov 3, 6:48 AM,2 min,12°,11° 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

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