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Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 19, 2018 through Thursday Oct 4, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Sep 20, 8:43 PM 2 min 24° 11° above SSW 24° above SSE  
Fri Sep 21, 7:52 PM 3 min 15° 11° above SSE 11° above E  
Fri Sep 21, 9:27 PM 2 min 27° 10° above WSW 27° above WSW  
Sat Sep 22, 8:35 PM 4 min 76° 10° above SW 37° above ENE  
Sun Sep 23, 7:43 PM 6 min 37° 11° above SSW 12° above ENE  
Sun Sep 23, 9:22 PM 1 min 27° 21° above WNW 27° above NW  
Mon Sep 24, 8:30 PM 3 min 44° 30° above W 17° above NE  
Tue Sep 25, 7:37 PM 5 min 82° 23° above WSW 11° above NE  
Tue Sep 25, 9:15 PM 1 min 17° 15° above NW 17° above N  
Wed Sep 26, 8:23 PM 4 min 24° 21° above NW 10° above NNE  
Thu Sep 27, 7:31 PM 3 min 36° 34° above NW 11° above NE  
Thu Sep 27, 9:08 PM 2 min 13° 11° above NW 13° above N  
Fri Sep 28, 8:16 PM 3 min 16° 13° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 29, 7:26 PM 2 min 19° 19° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 29, 9:01 PM 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above N  
Sun Sep 30, 8:09 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Oct 1, 8:54 PM 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above N  
Tue Oct 2, 8:02 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Wed Oct 3, 8:47 PM 1 min 15° 11° above NNW 15° above N  
2018-09-21 00:43:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 8:43 PM,2 min,24°,11° above SSW,24° above SSE|2018-09-21 23:52:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 7:52 PM,3 min,15°,11° above SSE,11° above E|2018-09-22 01:27:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 9:27 PM,2 min,27°,10° above WSW,27° above WSW|2018-09-23 00:35:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 8:35 PM,4 min,76°,10° above SW,37° above ENE|2018-09-23 23:43:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 7:43 PM,6 min,37°,11° above SSW,12° above ENE|2018-09-24 01:22:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 9:22 PM,1 min,27°,21° above WNW,27° above NW|2018-09-25 00:30:00.0,Mon Sep 24, 8:30 PM,3 min,44°,30° above W,17° above NE|2018-09-25 23:37:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 7:37 PM,5 min,82°,23° above WSW,11° above NE|2018-09-26 01:15:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 9:15 PM,1 min,17°,15° above NW,17° above N|2018-09-27 00:23:00.0,Wed Sep 26, 8:23 PM,4 min,24°,21° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-09-27 23:31:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 7:31 PM,3 min,36°,34° above NW,11° above NE|2018-09-28 01:08:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 9:08 PM,2 min,13°,11° above NW,13° above N|2018-09-29 00:16:00.0,Fri Sep 28, 8:16 PM,3 min,16°,13° above NW,10° above NNE|2018-09-29 23:26:00.0,Sat Sep 29, 7:26 PM,2 min,19°,19° above N,10° above NNE|2018-09-30 01:01:00.0,Sat Sep 29, 9:01 PM,1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above N|2018-10-01 00:09:00.0,Sun Sep 30, 8:09 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2018-10-02 00:54:00.0,Mon Oct 1, 8:54 PM,1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above N|2018-10-03 00:02:00.0,Tue Oct 2, 8:02 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2018-10-04 00:47:00.0,Wed Oct 3, 8:47 PM,1 min,15°,11° above NNW,15° above N|

Last Updated:

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